China to crack down on personal data collection by mobile apps

Guidelines tighten grip on popular platforms like Alipay and WeChat

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Chinese "superapps," such as Alibaba affiliate Ant Group's Alipay and Tencent's WeChat, have raised concerns about the amount of personal data they collect. © Reuters

NAOKI MATSUDA, Nikkei staff writer

SHANGHAI -- China has proposed new guidelines that would limit the ways tech companies collect personal data through smartphone apps.

The rules from the Cyberspace Administration of China would require 38 specific types of apps, including mobile payment platforms, ride-hailing services and online food delivery, to tell users what types of personal information they collect and get their consent before doing so.

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