BEIJING, Sept. 10 -- On Aug. 30, ZAO, a mobile app that allows users to transpose their faces onto celebrities' faces in hit movies or TV series, instantly went viral in China.
On Sept. 1, a privacy backlash was triggered after users found the app's terms and conditions required users to grant it and other users the right to 'irrevocably' use their photos.
On Sept. 3, ZAO creators were summoned to a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, who demanded the company make corrections and abide by laws regarding the collection of personal information.
The app's rise and fall within days sparked heated discussion nationwide about personal information protection.
In the run-up to China Cybersecurity Week starting next Monday, industry watchers said government agencies and enterprises are pushing forward personal data protection and welcoming regulation on data privacy.
According to the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, personal information protection will be one of the focuses and highlights of this year's China Cybersecurity Week.