What did China's CAC 30-app notice of September 20, 2026 require?
The CAC named 30 apps and mini-programs for personal information collection and use violations across four categories, and ordered each operator to complete rectification within 15 working days of publication and report the results to the CAC.
Which four violation categories did the CAC identify?
Six apps had no published personal information collection or use rules, four forced or frequently requested non-essential permissions, nine did not completely or accurately disclose their data practices, and eleven lacked an effective account cancellation function.
What penalties apply under PIPL if an operator does not remediate?
Under PIPL Article 66 the CAC can order correction, issue a warning, confiscate unlawful gains, and fine the handler up to CNY 1 million, rising to CNY 50 million or 5 percent of prior-year turnover for serious cases, with personal fines on responsible persons of CNY 10,000 to CNY 1 million depending on severity.
Is this notice part of a broader enforcement program?
Yes. It is the first enforcement bulletin of the 2026 Personal Information Protection Special Action Series jointly run by the CAC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Public Security, which signals recurring app testing and public naming will continue through 2026.