China: State Internet Information Office closes consultation on Internet Application Personal Information Collection and Use Regulations including quality of service requirements

On 9 February 2026, the State Internet Information Office closes a consultation on the draft Internet Application Personal Information Collection and Use Regulations including quality of service requirements. The Regulations would establish pre-listing review and approval procedures for app distribution platforms. Under Article 26, distribution platforms are required to verify the real identity and contact information of internet application operators before listing their applications, and may not list applications that fail to provide relevant information, provide false information, or lack rules for personal information collection, account cancellation, and data deletion. Platforms should prioritise displaying applications with personal information protection and security certifications. Additionally, distribution platforms are granted a six-month period to review all existing applications on their shelves and must remove those that do not comply with the new registration and verification standards. Further, Article 29 of the Regulations would establish similar obligations for smart terminal manufacturers regarding pre-installed applications.