Curbing illegal collection of info by apps

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's decision in late August to ban eight apps highlights the authorities' determination to protect users' rights and interests. The ministry's action also shows the supervisory authorities are committed to protecting people's personal information at a time when the digital economy is expanding.

After the novel coronavirus epidemic broke out, individuals' QR (quick response) health code, an app to digitally track a person and form a digitalized personal health data base, has been widely used nationwide as an effective tool to help prevent and control the spread of the virus, so normal economic and social activities could resume.

Supervision departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are required to strictly follow data security and personal information protection laws and regulations while using the health code, and strengthen supervision to ensure such data are not misused or abused.