BEIJING, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese citizens may, in the future, be able to avoid providing explicit personal information for internet service providers by using cyberspace IDs, according to a draft document published Friday to solicit public opinions.
The document was drafted by the Ministry of Public Security and the Cyberspace Administration of China, aiming to protect citizens' personal information, regulate the public service for authentication of cyberspace IDs, and accelerate the implementation of the trusted online identity strategy, said a press release jointly issued by the two departments.
Cyberspace IDs will take two forms, one as a series of letters and numbers, and the other in the form of an online credential. Both of them correspond to an individual's real-life identity but exclude any plaintext information, according to the draft.
The government will establish a national service platform for authenticating and granting cyberspace IDs, while individuals will be able to apply for them voluntarily.
Citizens will no longer have to provide their personal information in real life for internet service providers when they register for the services or verify their identities, the draft said.
As a result, the excessive collection and retention of citizens' personal information by internet service providers will be prevented and minimized, it added.
It explicitly specifies in what ways cyberspace IDs can be used for online identity verification, and sets out provisions regarding application, cyberspace ID granting, the range of legitimate identity documents required for cyberspace IDs, and obligations for data and personal information security.
The draft also clearly establishes the principle of "minimum and necessity" for personal information collected by the cyberspace ID public service platform, and specifies the obligations of the platform in terms of explanation, notification and data protection when handling users' personal information.
The public can send feedback and suggestions on the draft through two websites -- "www.moj.gov.cn" and "www.chinalaw.gov.cn" -- as well as email and mail. The deadline for feedback is Aug. 25. ■
