China’s Internet regulator warns app operators over data privacy and says more rectification is needed

The clampdown comes amid rising anxiety over data privacy among China’s netizens, particularly in hi-tech cities such as Shenzhen, where people increasingly do all of their shopping and food ordering online. — Reuters

China’s Internet regulator has said that a large number of mobile apps need to take rectification measures for the over-collection of personal data, clamping down on the practice as the country’s over 800 million mobile users increasingly shop and order services exclusively online.

The National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team issued its half-yearly report on Tuesday, saying a national response to the problem was necessary. Beijing authorities last month censured several popular apps, including food delivery platform Ele.me and social commerce site Xiaohongshu, for over-collection of user data.