Cash is disappearing in China, replaced by two huge mobile payment platforms. But convenient apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay also raise huge privacy questions. Join us as we dive deep into China’s mobile payments giants. We’ll compare their features, user bases, and ease of use for foreigners. Most importantly, we’ll analyze the privacy risks posed by their collection of personal data, links to government IDs, and increasing ubiquity in daily life. While mobile payments have transformed China’s economy, they’ve also given two private companies unprecedented insight into citizens’ activities. This episode explores the fascinating trade-offs around innovation, convenience, and personal privacy playing out in China’s mobile payment boom.