<p>China has fined ride-hailing giant Didi 8 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), regulators announced Thursday, concluding a year-long investigation into alleged data security violations.</p>.<p>The probe found "conclusive evidence" that Didi had committed violations of an "egregious nature", the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said in a statement.</p>.<p>It accused Didi of illegally storing the ID information of more than 57 million drivers in plain text instead of a more secure format.</p>.<p>The regulator said the firm also analysed passenger details without their knowledge -- including photos on their mobile phones and facial recognition data.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/chinas-didi-faces-rocky-path-to-growth-after-winning-us-delisting-nod-1112361.html" target="_blank">China's Didi faces rocky path to growth after winning US delisting nod</a></strong></p>.<p>"Even when regulatory authorities ordered corrections, comprehensive and in-depth corrections were not carried out," the CAC said, adding Didi's violations took place over seven years starting June 2015.</p>.<p>Didi has been one of the highest-profile targets of a widespread clampdown on China's tech sector, which saw years of runaway growth and the emergence of supersized monopolies before regulators stepped in.</p>.<p>The fine amounts to more than four percent of its $27.3 billion total revenue last year.</p>.<p>"We sincerely accept this decision (and will) resolutely obey it," Didi said in a statement on social media.</p>.<p>"We sincerely thank the competent authorities for their inspection and guidance... We will take this as a warning... (and) further strengthen the construction of network security and data security."</p>.<p>Didi's fine is the largest imposed by Chinese authorities since e-commerce behemoth Alibaba was ordered to pay around $2.75 billion in April 2021 for anti-competitive practices.</p>.<p>The ride-hailing firm got into hot water in June last year after it pressed ahead with an initial public offering in the United States, reportedly against Beijing's wishes.</p>.<p>Days after it raised $4.4 billion in New York, Chinese authorities launched a cybersecurity probe into the company, sending its shares plunging.</p>.<p>Since then, Didi's app has been removed from Chinese stores and it has been unable to register new users.</p>
<p>China has fined ride-hailing giant Didi 8 billion yuan ($1.2 billion), regulators announced Thursday, concluding a year-long investigation into alleged data security violations.</p>.<p>The probe found "conclusive evidence" that Didi had committed violations of an "egregious nature", the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said in a statement.</p>.<p>It accused Didi of illegally storing the ID information of more than 57 million drivers in plain text instead of a more secure format.</p>.<p>The regulator said the firm also analysed passenger details without their knowledge -- including photos on their mobile phones and facial recognition data.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/chinas-didi-faces-rocky-path-to-growth-after-winning-us-delisting-nod-1112361.html" target="_blank">China's Didi faces rocky path to growth after winning US delisting nod</a></strong></p>.<p>"Even when regulatory authorities ordered corrections, comprehensive and in-depth corrections were not carried out," the CAC said, adding Didi's violations took place over seven years starting June 2015.</p>.<p>Didi has been one of the highest-profile targets of a widespread clampdown on China's tech sector, which saw years of runaway growth and the emergence of supersized monopolies before regulators stepped in.</p>.<p>The fine amounts to more than four percent of its $27.3 billion total revenue last year.</p>.<p>"We sincerely accept this decision (and will) resolutely obey it," Didi said in a statement on social media.</p>.<p>"We sincerely thank the competent authorities for their inspection and guidance... We will take this as a warning... (and) further strengthen the construction of network security and data security."</p>.<p>Didi's fine is the largest imposed by Chinese authorities since e-commerce behemoth Alibaba was ordered to pay around $2.75 billion in April 2021 for anti-competitive practices.</p>.<p>The ride-hailing firm got into hot water in June last year after it pressed ahead with an initial public offering in the United States, reportedly against Beijing's wishes.</p>.<p>Days after it raised $4.4 billion in New York, Chinese authorities launched a cybersecurity probe into the company, sending its shares plunging.</p>.<p>Since then, Didi's app has been removed from Chinese stores and it has been unable to register new users.</p>