Chinese authorities have issued a new guideline aimed at preventing mobile apps from excessively collecting user data.

The Cyberspace Administration of China, along with three other government departments, published half a dozen rules on Monday specifying the nature of “illegal personal information collection.” They include collecting personal information without specifying the purpose, collecting data without users’ consent, and transferring personal data to third-party companies without permission.

The new rules also tell app developers to avoid using jargon in their privacy policies and to explicitly inform users why they are collecting personal information such as ID numbers, bank accounts, and location data. According to the new guideline, it is also illegal to frequently request permissions from users after they’ve already declined to grant them.

In recent years, authorities have accused many Chinese apps of excessively collecting user data. In November 2018, the China Consumers Association found that over 90% of the apps it assessed had been over-collecting user data. Earlier this month, China’s Ministry of Public Security ordered 100 apps to go offline for rectification purposes after they were found to have violated users’ privacy. (Image: VCG)