Didi fined $1.2b in China for violating data security rules

China’s cybersecurity authority has imposed a fine of a little over 8 billion yuan (about US$1.2 billion) on Didi Global, bringing an end to a year-long investigation into the ride-hailing giant’s data security practices, CNBC reported.

The Cyberspace Administration of China has also imposed a fine of US$148,000 each on two senior Didi executives, Will Cheng Wei and Jean Liu Qing.

Reportedly, Didi has accepted the cybersecurity authority’s decision.

Last year, China opened a data security probe into Didi days after the firm raised US$4 billion from its New York Stock Exchange listing.

The company came under the scanner for pushing ahead with its US IPO without assuring Beijing about its data practices, which may have included sharing data with US regulators.

At the moment, it is not clear whether the fine gives Didi a reprieve from a decision that barred it from adding new users and facilitating the return of its apps to the local app stores.

See also: How Didi went from homegrown hero to being stuck in limbo

Currency converted from Chinese yuan to US dollar: US$1 = 6.76 yuan.