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China cracks down on mobile app developers

The country's internet regulatory arm announces that developers must add real-name registration and save activity logs for users.

Kent German Former senior managing editor / features
Kent was a senior managing editor at CNET News. A veteran of CNET since 2003, he reviewed the first iPhone and worked in both the London and San Francisco offices. When not working, he's planning his next vacation, walking his dog or watching planes land at the airport (yes, really).
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Kent German
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If you use mobile apps in China, the government will be watching.

 Taylor Martin/CNET

The Chinese government is expanding its strict internet monitoring efforts into one of the most widely used features of today's smartphone, mobile apps.

According to a report from Bloomberg, the Cyberspace Administration of China posted new regulations for mobile app developers on its website today. They include keeping a record of user activity for 60 days, establishing the identity of users with real-name registration, monitoring and reporting banned content and seeking user consent before collecting personal information and location data.

Designed to combat pornography, terrorism and other illegal activity, the regulations will apply to both domestic and foreign developers, including Apple. Google, which makes the Android mobile software, however, currently does not operate its app store in China.