Campaign targeting privacy violators showing progress

More than 1,600 products containing illegal cameras for the purpose of invading consumers' privacy have been removed from several popular online shopping platforms, including Taobao and JD, according to a report of Xinhua News Agency.

Operators of 14 video surveillance smartphone applications have also been criticized by Chinese internet regulators over the risk of data leaks, the report said on Monday.

The Cyberspace Administration of China worked with three other government bodies — the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Administration for Market Regulation — to launch a campaign in May to curb the theft of personal information stealing by means of camera installation.

The campaign is targeting those who illegally use cameras to intrude on people's privacy, sell related videos for profit or provide technical skills to such offenders.

Progress has been made. Since the campaign began, the Ministry of Public Security has detained 59 people suspected of making or selling cameras and eavesdropping equipment for the purpose violating people's privacy. It has also confiscated over 1,500 sets of such devices and more than 25,000 illegal webcams.

Meanwhile, cyberspace authorities said they have urged online platforms to eliminate more than 22,000 pieces of harmful information, some 4,000 online accounts and 132 online chat groups related to the use of privacy violating cameras.