In privacy row, ministry asks firms to behave

China's telecoms watchdog on Wednesday urged companies to regulate their collection and usage of customer data, amid a dispute involving the country's leading smartphone maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a statement it is investigating claims that Huawei's premium phones have been collecting user data via Tencent's WeChat application, and urged the warring parties to come to a peaceful resolution.

Based on the Provisions on Protecting the Personal Information of Telecommunications and Internet Users, the ministry will "push companies to protect the lawful rights of consumers ... and actively coordinate between the duo to settle the dispute", the statement said.