China rebukes 43 applications together with Tencent’s WeChat for breaking facts transfer principles

SHANGHAI, Aug 18 (Reuters) – China’s Ministry of Field and Facts Technological know-how (MIIT) stated on Wednesday that 43 applications, including Tencent Holdings Ltd’s (0700.HK) WeChat, have been found to have illegally transferred consumer details, and requested their mum or dad providers to make rectifications.

The move comes as Chinese authorities tighten regulatory oversight on a assortment of marketplace, with a particular emphasis on privateness and knowledge.

In a assertion printed on-line, the regulator reported the apps experienced illegally transferred users’ get in touch with record and place details, even though also harassing them with pop-up windows.

The record also bundled an e-looking at app owned by Alibaba Team Holding Ltd (9988.HK), as perfectly as other folks managed by vacation large Excursion.com (9961.HK), and online video streamer iQiyi (IQ.O).

MIIT mentioned that the applications will have until finally Aug. 25 to make rectifications, or else they will be punished in accordance with applicable legislation and rules.

Alibaba iQiyi and Tencent did not quickly reply to requests for remark. Vacation.com declined to comment.

The punishment comes during a 12 months of ongoing regulatory scrutiny to tech providers. study far more

On Tuesday, China’s Point out Administration for Market place Regulation released a set of draft regulations aimed at improving upon truthful competition, banning tactics these as pretend reviews and inflated public metrics. go through a lot more

Reporting by Josh Horwitz and Brenda Goh in Shanghai, Yingzhi Yang in Beijing editing by Jason Neely and Anil D’Silva

Our Criteria: The Thomson Reuters Rely on Ideas.