Authorities launch national crackdown on illegal information use by apps

A national crackdown on the illegal or improper collection or use of personal information in smartphone applications has been launched, according to an announcement on Friday by four authorities regulating China’s cyberspace affairs.

The crackdown, jointly conducted by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Administration of Market Regulation, will end in December.

“We hope the rights of consumers can be protected when they enjoy services provided by apps,” said Yang Chunyan, an official with the Cyberspace Administration.

Apps offering lifestyle services such as food delivery, shopping, education and ticket sales will be major targets in this crackdown.

The apps will first be evaluated by academics to determine whether there is excessive collection or use of consumers’ personal information. Problematic cases will then be transferred to law enforcement departments, including the public security and cyberspace authorities, to solve.

App operators who improperly collect or leak users’ personal information will face administrative punishments, such as orders to rectify issues or have business licenses revoked.

The administration said that police officers will be responsible for targeting those that seriously harm consumers’ privacy and breach criminal laws.

Apps that qualify during the crackdown will be given verification certificates, and will receive priority to be recommended to consumers.