As of May 1, apps in China can no longer force users to provide too much personal data, according to a document jointly released by a group of the country's top regulators, the Cyberspace Administration, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Market Regulation.
It's a common practice in China where apps ask users to provide sensitive personal information, and those who refuse to share are often denied access. While some of the requests are legitimate, such as someone's location information for map navigation, many others are unnecessary, such as biometrics for making mobile payments.
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In December, Chinese authorities set the acceptable range of data that 39 common types of apps are allowed to collect, as reported by TechCrunch.
All forms of apps are subject to the requirements, including the increasingly popular "mini programs," which are accessible in apps through a native app like WeChat and Alipay without the need to install an app store, the new document said.
Also read: Apple warns China: Rules will apply to all apps
“External data is most often used for advertising purposes, such as serving local ads or ads based on the user’s interests,” said Todd Kuhns, marketing director at AppInChina. “Developers could still request this additional information, but users who opt out will likely still receive ads and offers — just fewer.”
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For now, the document appears to be a guideline at best, as it does not specify how the rules should be enforced or how violators will be punished. While it marks China’s gradual progress in data protection, regulators will need to continue to update the rules as people’s daily lives become increasingly connected to digital devices.
Information source: techcrunch.com
