China has launched a voluntary Internet identity system aimed at safeguarding citizens' online identities, but it raises significant concerns regarding privacy and increased government surveillance. Critics argue that the system could centralize control over digital identities and potentially enable authorities to access personal data without adequate notification.

Over 4 billion user records, including sensitive financial, WeChat, and Alipay data, were exposed in what is believed to be the largest data leak in China’s history. The dataset, comprising 631 gigabytes, was left unprotected and is thought to have been collected for surveillance and profiling purposes. Affected individuals face significant risks with no clear recourse due to the anonymity of the data's source.