Recently, the Secretariat of the Cyberspace Administration of China (the "CAC") and other three authorities jointly promulgated the Rules on the Scope of Necessary Personal Information for Common Types of Mobile Internet Applications (the "Rules"), which will come into force on May 1, 2021.

The Rules define the scope of necessary personal information for each of 39 common types of mobile Internet applications including maps and navigation apps, online ride-hailing apps and instant messaging apps, and require that operators of these apps shall not refuse basic app functions and services to users because of their refusal to provide their personal information that is not necessary. According to the Rules, the basic functions and services of residential real estate leasing/sales apps include the "posting of information on personal residential property for rent or sale, for which the necessary personal information include: (1) mobile phone number of the registered user; (2) basic information of the property including its address and floor area/floor plan, and the expected purchase or rental price. The basic function and service of online audio/video apps is to "search and play videos or music", and personal information should not be required for the use of this basic function and service.

(Source: Cyberspace Administration of China)