China broadens restrictions on driver data gathered by carmakers

The stricter rules come as China moves against its most powerful tech stars, including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Tencent Holdings Ltd and Didi Global Inc in a bid to ensure its grip on society. — AFP

China has broadened its crackdown on information gathered by automakers, as part of a wider campaign on how companies handle and protect user data.

Data shouldn’t be collected without a driver’s consent, and data that is collected should be processed onboard the vehicle, a statement Friday from five government offices said. Additionally, built-in hardware like cameras and radar should only be precise enough to fulfill their functions, and all data collated should be as anonymous as possible.