On January 18 during its seventh meeting, Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee adopted the Xuzhou Computer Information System Security Protection Ordinance, which clearly prohibits mass searching online, according to Yangtse Evening News.

"Cyber hunting" is a term used to describe Internet users who hunt down otherwise-anonymous Chinese citizens in cases ranging from love triangles to political scandals and cold-case murders.

A source from the Law Working Committee of Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress said: "The civil, administrative and criminal laws of China protect personal privacy of citizens. Here, personal privacy means such information as age, property, home address, salary and so on.

According to the ordinance, people who transmit another person's private details or access another person's personal information without permission will be fined up to 5,000 yuan or be banned from Internet use for six months. Commercial operators will face the additional punishment of having their business license revoked if they breach the regulations.

Furthermore, a security system in line with state regulations should be set up in computers in Internet cafes or hotels where the public can use a computer with Internet access. Operators should operate real name registration systems and record relevant details of the customers. Records are to be kept for no less than 60 days and the information must not be deleted or revised. If operators violate these regulations, they will be given a warning or a fine from 1000 to 10,000 yuan, and risk having their business license revoked.

(China.org.cn by Ma Yujia, January 19, 2008)