Baidu has denied allegations of breaching user privacy following a doxxing incident involving the 13-year-old daughter of its vice-president, Xie Guangjun. The girl shared another user’s personal information online, prompting Xie to issue an apology.

Baidu said that the leaked data came from an overseas database with illegally acquired information, not its own systems.

During a briefing, Baidu’s security chief, Chen Yang, emphasized the company’s strict privacy protocols, including data anonymization and access controls. Baidu asserted that its executives and employees cannot access private user data and condemned illegal data exposure.

In response to criticism, the company announced a fund to combat cybercrime and plans to form an anti-doxxing alliance.

The incident has raised concerns about user privacy and potential risks to Baidu’s business, particularly its cloud storage and AI services, which rely on user trust.

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