China says 33 apps break rules in gathering user information


Employees walk through a lobby at the Baidu Inc. headquarters in Beijing. China has started to rein in its Internet companies on concerns over their growing influence in every aspect of Chinese life, as well as the vast amounts of data they’ve amassed through providing services like online shopping, chatting and ride-hailing. — Bloomberg

China said thirty-three applications, including map navigation software provided by Baidu Inc and Tencent Holdings Ltd, violated regulations, with most collecting personal information that weren’t relevant to their services.

The operators of the apps were asked to rectify the issues within 10 working days or be subject to penalties, the Cyberspace Administration of China said in a statement, without elaborating. Authorities had carried out recent checks into apps that were widely used, the agency said.

Subscribe now and get 30% off The Star Yearly Plan

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 9.73/month

Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.63/month

Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.


Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Others Also Read


Want to listen to full audio?

Unlock unlimited access to enjoy personalise features on the TheStar.com.my

Already a subscriber? Log In