Credit rule to guard personal privacy

Credit agencies will be banned from collecting personal information in an attempt to protect individuals' privacy rights, according to a draft regulation prepared by the State Council.

The new rule would be China's first nationwide regulation regarding the credit investigation system, experts said.

The draft, issued by the State Council Legislative Affairs Office on Monday to solicit public opinion, bans credit agencies from collecting personal information such as appearance, genetic data, fingerprints, blood type and disease history.