Millions of Chinese use cyberspace IDs to protect online privacy

Chinese citizens are able to avoid providing explicit personal information to internet service providers by using cyberspace IDs – a move China has taken to strengthen online privacy protection.

The number of Chinese citizens who have applied for and activated cyberspace IDs has reached 6 million, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced on Friday.

Cyberspace IDs take two forms: one is a series of letters and numbers, and the other is an online credential. Both correspond to an individual's real-life identity but exclude any plain text information.

In June 2023, Chinese authorities established a national service platform that issues digital identities by verifying legal, real-life identity documents such as resident ID cards.

Citizens will no longer have to provide personal information such as ID numbers or real names to internet service providers when they register for services or verify their identities.

Regulations on the public service related to cyberspace IDs were published on Friday by six government departments, including the MPS and the Cyberspace Administration of China, and will take effect on July 15.

According to the regulations, if an internet user chooses to use a cyberspace ID to register and verify their identity, the relevant internet service provider should not require them to provide additional plain text information unless otherwise stipulated by laws and administrative regulations, or with the user's consent.

The national cyberspace ID authentication service platform will only collect personal information that is strictly necessary for authentication purposes, the regulations stipulate.

Under a "minimum and necessary" standard, the platform will only provide verification results to internet service providers. In cases where retaining a user's real-life identity information is legally required, the platform should only do so with that user's explicit consent.

According to the MPS, the official app used to issue and authenticate cyberspace IDs has been downloaded over 16 million times.

An MPS official emphasized that obtaining a cyberspace ID is voluntary. "This service not only ensures secure and convenient identity verification for citizens but also supports the growth of China's digital economy."