Hong Kong Commercial Daily:

Nowadays, almost everyone has a mobile phone with many apps installed. The management of apps, relating to the vital interests of the public, is a hot issue of common concern. What important measures has the MIIT taken recently to manage apps? Thank you.

Tian Yulong:

Thanks for your question, Mr. Zhao Zhiguo will answer it.

Zhao Zhiguo:

Thank you for your question. The MIIT pays great attention to the protection of app users' rights and interests. In recent years, we have adopted a holistic approach to improve our management system. Through the following four areas of work, we have achieved new progress and effects.

First, problem-addressing actions on apps' infringement of users' rights and interests were continued. We have organized communication authorities in Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin, Sichuan, Anhui and Inner Mongolia to carry out six batches of random inspections. In total, 760,000 apps were examined, 748 apps were reported to be violating rules, and 245 apps that refused to make corrections were disposed. We have maintained high-pressure deterrent against violations.

Second, supervision of key responsibility chains was strengthened. App stores were asked to strengthen self-examination, dispose faulty apps, and check new apps. By the end of May, there were 3.02 million apps in the Chinese market, 13% down from the 3.5 million before the campaign. With these efforts, the quality of apps has improved, and we have promoted the healthy development of apps that conform to rules. At the same time, the problem-finding rate of random inspections in app stores has steadily declined. 

Third, special campaigns to address app pop-ups were carried out. One campaign focused on pop-ups which appear as an app opens and are difficult to close as well as on those which mislead users to click to another page. These two problems received the most complaints from users. In the second quarter, complaints about open screen pop-ups fell by 50% from the previous quarter. Among the top 100 most-used apps, only 1% were found to have pop-ups showing up as they open, down from 69%. Also only 12 percent of them were found to have pop-ups appearing to mislead users to click to another page, down from 90%.

Fourth, the ability of technical examination was significantly advanced. With big data, artificial intelligence and other technologies, the capability of automatic examination, monitoring and data analysis of the national app technical examination platform has improved constantly. At present, the platform can examine 150,000 apps each month, and it is expected to cover 1.8 million apps by the end of this year.

Next, the MIIT will continue to improve app governance as a specific measure to solve practical problems for the people and strengthen efforts in the following three areas. With sustained momentum and work rhythm, we will strive to create a safer, healthier and cleaner app environment for the general public. 

First, we will push ahead efforts to improve management policies and industry standards. Together with other relevant departments, we will issue the interim provisions on the protection and management of personal information on mobile apps. We are now studying and incorporating opinions and suggestions solicited from the public after the drafts went online and will issue the provisions as soon as possible. We will also make efforts to formulate and improve relevant industry standards. By doing so, we can better guarantee app governance with policies and industry standards.

Second, we will launch a campaign to improve service. The campaign will focus on several major issues, including fixing undesirable services and improving user experience for apps, and adopt effective measures to improve the quality of service in those apps. We will launch the campaign in the second half of this year and adopt strong and effective measures to improve user experience.

Third, we will conduct follow-up inspections for key issues and businesses on a timely basis while ensuring routine supervision. For companies who have been found repeatedly accessing users' address books and geographical locations illegally, we will enhance law enforcement efforts to ensure those problems won't happen again. Thank you.