China regulator says Alibaba, Tencent have submitted app algorithm details

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) published a list of 30 algorithms used in some of the country’s most popular apps, including Alibaba’s Taobao, Tencent’s Wechat, Meituan and ByteDance’s Douyin, with brief descriptions of their use and gave them classification numbers. — Reuters

SHANGHAI: China’s top Internet watchdog said on Aug 12 tech giants such as Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group have submitted details of algorithms used in some of their products, complying with a drive by authorities to tighten oversight of platform algorithms.

The rules are part of a broad regulatory crackdown by Beijing against its once free-wheeling technology sector. State media had accused Internet platforms of using algorithms to invade user privacy and influencing their choices.