Now Reading: China Denies Asking Firms to Collect Data Illegally After New EU Probe
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China Denies Asking Firms to Collect Data Illegally After New EU Probe
The Chinese government has denied allegations of instructing its companies to illegally collect data from European citizens, responding on July 10, 2025, to a new European Union investigation launched by the European Data Protection Board.
The probe targets Chinese tech giants like ByteDance (TikTok’s parent) and Huawei, suspected of harvesting personal data, such as location and browsing habits—without consent, potentially breaching the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Beijing called the claims “groundless,” asserting that its firms operate within legal frameworks.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian accused the EU of politicizing trade, noting that 2024 data showed $850 billion in bilateral trade, with tech exports at $200 billion. The EU, citing 1.2 million complaints since 2023, is examining 15 companies, with fines up to 4% of global turnover possible. Critics argue China’s denial lacks transparency, given past espionage allegations, while Beijing points to EU firms’ data practices in China. The investigation, expected to conclude by late 2025, has escalated tensions, with both sides threatening retaliatory measures. Tech analysts suggest compliance costs could rise by 15% for affected firms.
