" alt="" title=""/>China’s top internet watchdog has found that 33 cell phone apps have breached data protection regulations, among other things, by collecting data without consent.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), in a statement on its official website, identified map apps, those used for instant messaging, and others with more functionality like downloading emojis.
The CAC said the programs collected data without consent, collected more information than was needed for operational purposes, and that the data was not deleted or revised in accordance with regulations.
Companies have 10 days to comply with the rules or to impose a fine.
Beijing has put pressure on the country’s vast “platform economy” used for a variety of e-commerce activities from banking to grocery delivery.
The move began with the $ 37 billion worth of Ant Group’s IPO last year and has expanded industry-wide, hurting companies’ stock prices.
(With contributions from agencies)
