BEIJING -- China's first set of national guidelines on personal information protection took effect on Friday.

Information collectors should obtain permission before collecting and using citizens' private information, according to the rules published in November 2012.

Co-formulated by the China Software Testing Center and other organizations, the guidelines were created to provide a standard on personal information collection and processing.

Leaks of private information such as phone numbers and purchase records are often for commercial purposes and have aroused concern among the public amid China's ongoing Internet boom.

The guidelines made headlines Friday, with media reports saying enforcing the guidelines means public service providers, including banks, Internet firms, telecom operators and property developers, will have to upgrade the protection of citizens' personal information.

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