Boost set for privacy on internet

Starting on Thursday, sale of users' personal information to be banned

A fundamental new cybersecurity law, which will take effect on Thursday and is intended to safeguard sovereignty in cyberspace, national security and the rights of citizens, bans online service providers from inappropriately collecting and selling users' personal information.

China has more than 730 million internet users - more than the population of the European Union - and nearly 700 million mobile phone users, according to government statistics.