China’s internet watchdog finds 33 mobile apps breached data privacy rules

SHANGHAI, May 3 (Reuters) – China’s top internet watchdog has found that 33 mobile phone apps breached data privacy rules by collecting data without consent, among other issues.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), in a statement posted on its official website on Saturday, identified map applications, those used for instant messaging and others with more functions, such as downloading emojis.

The CAC said the programs collect data without consent, more information is collected than necessary for operational purposes, and data is not deleted or reviewed in accordance with regulations.

Businesses have 10 days to comply with the rules or face a fine.

Beijing has cracked down on the country’s vast “platform economy”, used for a range of e-commerce activities, from banking to food delivery.

The crackdown began with the suspension last year of Ant Group’s $37 billion IPO and has spread across the industry, sending companies’ stock prices plummeting. Read more

Reporting by Engen Tham. Editing by Jane Merriman

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