Beijing Police: ID-Checking Websites Are Illegal

This is not a real Chinese ID (obviously), but it IS what they look like. via Shanghaiist.

In an announcement that should probably be filed under “common sense,” the Beijing Police want you to know those sketchy websites that offer you all the personal details connected to a state ID number in exchange for 5 RMB ($0.78) are actually illegal. Information — like addresses, phone numbers, photos, and more — that is associated with a state ID address isn’t actually public, and it’s certainly not supposed to be for sale.

Probably that’s something you, a decent person who doesn’t regularly attempt to buy personal data using state ID numbers, would have assumed. But it must have been tempting for sketchy bosses and businessmen to try to see what sort of dirt they could did up on prospective employees and anyone else they could trick into giving them the all-important ID number, and at 5 RMB a pop, it was also cheap.

Actually, it seems that this personal information once was actually public, but according to a Beijing Police announcement yesterday, it’s not anymore. So, yeah. If you were thinking of checking some state IDs out via their numbers, don’t. And if you’re running a website selling that sort of service, you may want to shut it down. The rest of you, carry on (and protect your personal data).

[via Sina Tech]