BEIJING — Chinese police apprehended more than 9,700 suspects involved in about 3,100 criminal cases of personal information infringement amid a sweeping campaign in 2020, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

During the campaign, police cracked down hard on the misuse of the personal information of minors and elderly citizens, dismantling 43 rings and nabbing over 860 suspects, said the ministry.

Other related offenses uncovered by police included the theft and sale of human face data, and the abuse of privacy using the dark web, it added.