Beijing names and shames Tencent, Alibaba, Baidu and 81 other apps for excessive data collection under new rules

  • This is the latest batch of apps to face scrutiny after new regulations from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology came into effect on May 1
  • The scrutiny on data privacy is part of a wider crackdown on China’s biggest tech companies, with tightened control over their business practices

Commuters wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus browse their smartphones as they walk by a mobile phone app advertisement at a subway station in Beijing, March 2, 2021. Photo: AP

China’s internet watchdog on Monday called out 84 mobile applications, including security apps developed by Tencent Holdings, Baidu, and Alibaba Group Holding, for excessive collection of user data, giving them a 15 day deadline to rectify the violations amid Beijing’s tightened scrutiny over the internet sector.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said 36 mobile security apps and 48 online lending apps were found to have infringed personal information through illegal access, over-collection and excessive authorisation, according to a notice on its website on Monday.

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