Beijing launches fresh crackdown on internet industry misconduct as Hong Kong tech stocks sink
- The six-month campaign will address the ‘tough problems’ of China’s internet sector, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
- Data security and infringement of user rights are among problems the ministry has pledged to address
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), one of China’s top government bodies responsible for regulating the tech industry, has begun a six-month campaign to address the “tough problems” of the internet industry, including disturbing market order, infringing users’ rights, threatening data security and unauthorised internet connections, the ministry said in a notice published in its website on Monday.
The campaign will target 22 specific scenarios, including apps that do not allow users to opt-out of personalisation, use pop-ups to mislead or deceive consumers, do not encrypt sensitive information when transmitting data and provide data to third parties without user consent, the ministry said.
It will also crack down on blocking and restricting normal access to other websites without a legitimate reason.
The strict measures against these irregularities, common in China, could have far-reaching impact on the business models and profits of the country's internet firms.
China’s Big Tech face new reality under Beijing’s data oversight
Alibaba is the owner of the South China Morning Post.
The ministry also said that it has already notified its local branches across the country as well as technology companies, who have been told to conduct “self-examinations”.
