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September 5, 2019

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Home » Sunday » Technology

Protect privacy of users, app firms told

By Zhu Shenshen | 00:11 UTC+8 September 5, 2019 | Print Edition

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has ordered the developer of popular face-swap application ZAO to enhance data and privacy protections for its users, according to a statement posted on the regulator’s website yesterday.

ZAO’s developer, social network company MoMo, has been asked to conduct self-checks, gather user data according to national laws and regulations, regulate its user agreements and strengthen users’ security. It should also take steps to avoid the risk of ZAO being used in telecommunications and online fraud, the ministry said.

On Tuesday, ZAO acknowledged and apologized for privacy and payment security concerns.

ZAO became the subject of controversy when an earlier version of its user agreement gave its makers broad rights to uploaded content and created by users.

“We apologize for causing doubts and troubles,” ZAO’s operations team said on Weibo.

ZAO lets users replace the faces of celebrities in scenes from films and television shows, such as “Titanic” and “Game of Thrones,” with their own.

The recently launched app went viral over the weekend, becoming the most popular app on China’s iOS store.

The ministry also requires similar firms to strengthen data and privacy protection and fight against online crime, including telecommunications frauds, it added.

In 2019, China’s spending on IT security is expected to hit US$7.35 billion, according to IDC, a US-based research firm.

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