New Rules to Make Smartphone Apps Easier to Understand, Delete

(Beijing) — Preinstalled apps on smartphones sold in China must clearly state their creators and functions and also must be easy to uninstall, according to new draft rules released by China's telecom regulator, as it aims to better protect consumer privacy and reduce nuisance software.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the rules late on Friday amid a growing chorus of complaints about unwanted apps that come installed on many smartphones, sometimes gathering personal data without the user's knowledge or authorization.