China’s mobile apps collect too much data, says consumer body

  • Many apps collect excessive data, do not make clear how they share data with third parties, according to report by China Consumers Association.

Sarah Daiin Beijing
Smartphone apps from Chinese navigation, travel and hotel booking, cloud storage and wealth management services providers are among those suspected of collecting excessive user data, according to the China Consumers Association. Photo: Getty Images

A large number of smartphone apps available in China have been found to be collecting an excessive amount of personal data, including user location, contact lists and mobile numbers, according to a mainland consumer rights watchdog.

The China Consumers Association said in a report published on Wednesday that 91 out of 100 mobile apps that it recently reviewed are suspected of collecting too much data, without naming them.

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