Chinese search giant Baidu has denied allegations of an internal data breach following claims that the teenage daughter of a top executive posted personal details of other internet users online, igniting controversy.
The company, a major player in China's cloud services, faced scrutiny last week after users accused the daughter of vice president Xie Guangjun of sharing sensitive information, including phone numbers, after an online argument.
Baidu stated that access to user data is strictly prohibited for all employees and executives, asserting that the information shared by the teenager was sourced from illegally obtained “doxing databases” on foreign platforms that compile stolen private data.
Additionally, Baidu confirmed it had reported the spread of false information, including allegations that the teenager claimed her father had granted her access to these databases, as the situation continued to escalate.
Xie, involved in Baidu's cloud division, publicly apologized for his daughter's actions, noting that she had acquired the information from overseas social media sites, as reported by Chinese media citing a post he made on his personal WeChat.
Xie has not yet responded to requests for comment through Baidu or on his LinkedIn profile.
In recent years, China has implemented comprehensive data laws and increased restrictions on the sharing of private information, aiming to combat the rise of clandestine online activities that trade personal details such as birth dates and property ownership.
Baidu's shares fell more than 4% during trading in Hong Kong on Thursday morning.