China cracks down on personal data crimes, discloses typical cases

BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday released 10 typical cases involving the infringement of citizens' personal information, underscoring ongoing nationwide efforts to combat data-related crimes and protect individual rights in the digital era.

The cases revealed organized criminal networks that exploited inducements, cyber intrusions, and insider collusion to harvest and trade personal data for profit, according to the ministry's cybersecurity bureau.

In one case, a gang used cash rewards to lure people into registering e-commerce accounts and business licenses under their real names, and then sold the credentials on to facilitate money laundering.

In another case, suspects bought large volumes of real-name-verified accounts on online platforms such as WeChat and Douyin, and then resold them to overseas syndicates for telecom and online fraud crimes.

All suspects in the 10 cases have been handled in accordance with the law, the ministry said.

The latest crackdowns reflect China's sustained drive against data-related crimes. From 2020 to 2024, through specified campaigns, Chinese police agencies cracked more than 40,000 cases involving the infringement of citizens' personal information.

In 2025, the ministry combined tough law enforcement with tighter regulation to build a more comprehensive cyberspace governance system aimed at protecting network, data and information security.

The ministry also urged the public to strengthen personal data protection, report suspected leaks without delay, and use legal means to safeguard their rights.