International Law

China Job Sites Selling User Info ? Can We Please Have A Data Privacy Law Now?

By Stan

From JLM:

Several online recruitment sites are selling their job seekers’ personal information in an effort to pad profits during the economic downturn, reports Information Times quoting Liu Hao, the CEO of Beijing-based online recruitment site Zhaopin.com. According to Gong Wenxiang, the marketing director for Shenzhen-based e-commerce site Zoshow.com, it is an unspoken industry practice for training centers and small online recruitment sites to get this kind of information from China’s top three recruitment sites.

OK, yes, my first reaction was also “D’uh”, of course they are selling user information. This was happening before the recession and included a lot of enterprises across many industries.

We have been waiting for a data privacy law in China for several years now, and although a baby step may be taken with the inclusion of safeguards with respect to government disclosure of personal data in amendments to the Criminal Law, what we really need is a comprehensive scheme that applies to private enterprises as well.

This complaint by Zhaopin.com is not a scandal and will not lead to any government action. This is just another example of activity that has gone on for a long time. Perhaps a real mega-disclosure that spurs a great deal of pushback from users will be necessary to get some movement on this issue.

© Stan for China Hearsay, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us

Full post as published by China Hearsay on March 14, 2009 (boomark / email).