Guangdong authority orders Tencent, Xpeng, other tech firms to amend apps over cybersecurity concerns | South China Morning Post
Guangdong authority orders Tencent, Xpeng, other tech firms to amend apps over cybersecurity concerns
More than 70 per cent of the 201 apps reprimanded by the Guangdong Communications Administration failed to specify the purpose, means and scope of data collection
Up to 40 per cent were found to have collected personal information before receiving user consent
Iris Deng
Iris Deng
Published: 7:45pm, 14 Jan, 2021
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China has continued its campaign against breaches of personal privacy in the world’s largest internet market. Photo: XinhuaChina has continued its campaign against breaches of personal privacy in the world’s largest internet market. Photo: Xinhua
China has continued its campaign against breaches of personal privacy in the world’s largest internet market. Photo: Xinhua
The communications authority in southern Guangdong province has cracked down on the operation of 209 apps, including seven run by internet giant Tencent Holdings and one from electric car maker Xpeng, over privacy and security concerns amid China’s renewed drive against misuse of consumer data.
The Guangdong Communications Administration in November and December last year ordered 201 of those apps to be rectified for infringing user rights and posing as cybersecurity risks across a range of categories, including video games, retail, and banking and finance, according to a notice on the agency’s website on Monday. It said eight other apps were directed to shut down.
More than 70 per cent of the 209 apps reprimanded by the Guangdong authority failed to specify the purpose, means and scope of data collection, while up to 40 per cent were found to have collected personal information before receiving user consent, according to the announcement.
Three Tencent apps, including that of video player QQ Yingyin, were punished for accessing smartphone data when activated for the first time before getting user consent. The other Tencent apps were found to have no default privacy policy agreement, among various issues.
China rebukes internet companies for weak user data protection in their apps
The app of Guangzhou-based Xpeng was found to contain risks for interface hijack by accessing data before the users read and agreed to its privacy terms.
Tencent and Xpeng did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Five financial apps were ordered to shut down for illegal foreign exchange transactions and online gambling, while three social apps were closed for providing pornographic and violent content.
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“We have continued to carry out the rectification campaign on mobile apps, to focus on privacy compliance and network data security, and to crack down on illegal and harmful apps,” the Guangdong Communications Administration said in the announcement.
Last year, the agency ordered more than 400 apps for rectification, removed over 30 others from app stores and shut down 300 illegal apps.
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China last year drafted the Personal Information Protection Law, which significantly increases penalties for companies responsible for data breaches. It proposed fines of up to 50 million yuan (US$7.7 million) or 5 per cent of an offending company’s annual revenue.
Lu Chuncong, deputy director of the Information and Communications Administration under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, accused major app operators at a meeting in November of last year of flouting government orders to tighten consumer data privacy.
More than 70 per cent of the 201 apps reprimanded by the Guangdong Communications Administration failed to specify the purpose, means and scope of data collection
Up to 40 per cent were found to have collected personal information before receiving user consent
Iris Deng
Iris Deng
Published: 7:45pm, 14 Jan, 2021
Why you can trust SCMP
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China has continued its campaign against breaches of personal privacy in the world’s largest internet market. Photo: XinhuaChina has continued its campaign against breaches of personal privacy in the world’s largest internet market. Photo: Xinhua
China has continued its campaign against breaches of personal privacy in the world’s largest internet market. Photo: Xinhua
The communications authority in southern Guangdong province has cracked down on the operation of 209 apps, including seven run by internet giant Tencent Holdings and one from electric car maker Xpeng, over privacy and security concerns amid China’s renewed drive against misuse of consumer data.
The Guangdong Communications Administration in November and December last year ordered 201 of those apps to be rectified for infringing user rights and posing as cybersecurity risks across a range of categories, including video games, retail, and banking and finance, according to a notice on the agency’s website on Monday. It said eight other apps were directed to shut down.
More than 70 per cent of the 209 apps reprimanded by the Guangdong authority failed to specify the purpose, means and scope of data collection, while up to 40 per cent were found to have collected personal information before receiving user consent, according to the announcement.
Three Tencent apps, including that of video player QQ Yingyin, were punished for accessing smartphone data when activated for the first time before getting user consent. The other Tencent apps were found to have no default privacy policy agreement, among various issues.
China rebukes internet companies for weak user data protection in their apps
The app of Guangzhou-based Xpeng was found to contain risks for interface hijack by accessing data before the users read and agreed to its privacy terms.
Tencent and Xpeng did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Five financial apps were ordered to shut down for illegal foreign exchange transactions and online gambling, while three social apps were closed for providing pornographic and violent content.
SATURDAY
Inside China Tech Newsletter
By submitting, you consent to receiving marketing emails from SCMP. If you don't want these, tick here
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
“We have continued to carry out the rectification campaign on mobile apps, to focus on privacy compliance and network data security, and to crack down on illegal and harmful apps,” the Guangdong Communications Administration said in the announcement.
Last year, the agency ordered more than 400 apps for rectification, removed over 30 others from app stores and shut down 300 illegal apps.
China in renewed crackdown on app developers for overzealous collection of private data
17 Jul 2020
The latest crackdown comes as Beijing continues its campaign against breaches of personal privacy in the world’s largest internet market.
China last year drafted the Personal Information Protection Law, which significantly increases penalties for companies responsible for data breaches. It proposed fines of up to 50 million yuan (US$7.7 million) or 5 per cent of an offending company’s annual revenue.
Lu Chuncong, deputy director of the Information and Communications Administration under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, accused major app operators at a meeting in November of last year of flouting government orders to tighten consumer data privacy.
