Suit claims Baidu apps illegally tap data

Chinese internet giant Baidu is facing public interest litigation in Jiangsu province after refusing to make changes in two smartphone applications suspected of being able to illegally monitor users' phone calls and obtaining their contact lists.

The Nanjing Intermediate People's Court placed the case on file on Tuesday, the Jiangsu Provincial Consumers Council told a media briefing on Friday.

The council said that in July it had talked to 27 companies that operate popular mobile phone applications in the areas of audio and video, book reading, mobile payment and travel, and that it had found issues infringing on consumers' personal information.