Starfall Nonprofit Seeks U.S. Counterintelligence Help to Protect Children from Alleged Chinese Intellectual Property Hijacker Tencent Holdings.

Starfall Education Foundation, a nonprofit, has requested help from the US Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency to protect children from alleged intellectual property hijacker Tencent Holdings Limited, a Chinese company designated as a Chinese Military Company by the US Department of Defense. The nonprofit alleges that Tencent collects personal information from children and places it under the control of a foreign entity, and seeks injunctive relief and damages.

The Starfall Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has requested assistance from the U.S. Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) to protect children from alleged intellectual property hijacker Tencent Holdings Limited, a Chinese company designated as a Chinese Military Company by the U.S. Department of Defense. The nonprofit alleges that Tencent collects personal information from children and places it under the control of a foreign entity, seeking injunctive relief and damages [1].

Tencent Holdings Limited, a technology conglomerate, has been linked to the Chinese military and has been actively lobbying to influence U.S. policy. The company, along with DJI, a drone manufacturer, spent over $1.1 million on lobbying operations during the first and second quarters of this year [1]. Tencent has been accused of providing the Chinese government with information leading to the arrests of religious and political dissidents through its control of the messaging platform WeChat [1].

The U.S. District Court has upheld a ruling that Hesai Group, a Chinese-based lidar manufacturer, contributes to the Chinese defense industrial base. Hesai has appealed this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia [2]. This ruling further highlights the U.S. government's efforts to curtail the influence of Chinese military companies on U.S. policy and national security.

WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American: WYY) has secured a new four-year contract under the Navy Spiral 4 Contract vehicle to support the DCSA. The contract includes a one-year base period and three one-year option periods. This contract strengthens WidePoint's position in federal government services and enhances its credentials in the high-security federal sector [3].

The Starfall Education Foundation's request for assistance from the DCSA underscores the growing concern over the potential misuse of personal data by foreign entities, particularly those linked to the Chinese military. The nonprofit's allegations highlight the need for robust protections against intellectual property hijacking and the unauthorized collection of personal information.

References:
[1] https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/investigations/3470756/chinese-military-companies-1-million-lobbying-congress-this-year/
[2] https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2025-07-14/china-based-hesai-appeals-ruling-over-us-linking-firm-to-chinese-military
[3] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/WYY/wide-point-awarded-its-fourth-task-order-under-the-navy-spiral-4-nbgibvo7q74r.html