ByteDance’s news app and nearly 130 apps ordered to halt privacy infringement by China’s internet watchdog

  • Jinri Toutiao, alongside other popular apps from Tencent, Nike and Sohu, was ordered to rectify its data practices by China’s internet watchdog
  • Privacy infringements and information breaches have become hot-button issues as Beijing intensifies scrutiny of China’s Big Tech

A Bytedance sign is seen on the facade of its headquarters in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

Popular news aggregation app Jinri Toutiao developed by TikTok owner ByteDance has been named in a new batch of 129 apps ordered to rectify their user data collection practices by China’s internet watchdog.

Jinri Toutiao, meaning Today’s Headlines, alongside Tencent-operated Kuai Bao and Tencent News, Sohu News by Beijing-based Sohu, and Nasdaq-listed Qutoutiao, were among a group of news apps that received an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China on Friday to rectify their data practices within 15 days.

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