• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechChina

Personal Data of Jack Ma, Other Chinese Leaders, Leaked on Twitter

By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 14, 2016, 4:13 PM ET
HANGZHOU, CHINA - OCTOBER 25: (CHINA OUT) Jack Ma, founder and chairman of Alibaba Group, president of the General Association of Zhejiang Entrepreneurs, makes a speech on the Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Association on October 25, 2015 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. (Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)
JACK MA, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF ALIBABA GROUP ALIX COLOW. PICK UP. Photo by ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images)Photograph by ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

Tech in Asia reports that the state ID numbers and other sensitive personal information of powerful Chinese figures, including Alibaba founder Jack Ma, has been leaked via Twitter. The information was released through an anonymous account that has since been suspended.

Other victims of the release include Wang Jianlin, China’s richest man; real estate developer Pan Shiyi; and Hu Xijin, editor of the state-run newspaper Global Times.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

In addition to state ID numbers, the data dump included addresses and even full images of ID cards themselves. According to Tech in Asia, the state ID numbers, much like U.S. Social Security Numbers, could be used to do things like conduct bank transfers or set up fake online accounts in the holders’ names.

There are a few hints at the motivations of the leaker. A tweet from the account read in part: “I hope this will make my countrymen think about how worthless their personal privacy is, so that even the whereabouts of the rich and famous can be easily monitored.”

Another victim of the release was Fang Binxing, a Communist Party leader credited with the creation of China’s “Great Firewall” system of internet censorship. Fang has previously been the target of protests by opponents of China’s censorship and security policies, including an incident in 2011 when a student threw shoes at him during a university address.

For more on Alibaba, watch our video:

Similarly, Hu’s Global Times has been criticized by China’s own regulators for irresponsible reporting that could be described as nationalist and militarist. Another reported leak victim was Sima Nan, a political commentator associated with so-called “wumao,” or passionate online defenders of the Communist state.

It all points to an opponent of state power looking to tweak the Chinese establishment. There has been no indication yet as to the source of the data, and as Tech in Asia points out, it’s difficult or impossible to confirm its accuracy. Though the data has been removed from Twitter (TWTR), copies reportedly remain in circulation online.

About the Author
By David Z. Morris
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Man in a suit touches servers in a rack.
Investingfraud
Supermicro’s co-founder was just arrested for allegedly smuggling $2.5 billion in GPUs to China
By Amanda GerutMarch 19, 2026
5 hours ago
InnovationUber Technologies
Uber will operate its own robotaxis again—this time with Rivian’s not‑yet‑built EVs
By Jessica MathewsMarch 19, 2026
13 hours ago
AIoriginal content
The CEO of Patreon blasts AI companies for the ‘bogus excuse’ they’re using to not pay artists
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMarch 19, 2026
14 hours ago
Elon Musk, wearing a DOGE shirt and hat, puts one hand to the brim of the hat as he stands in the Oval Office.
LawDOGE
DOGE cancelled a $349,000 grant to replace a museum’s HVAC after ChatGPT flagged it as DEI, court documents show
By Sasha RogelbergMarch 19, 2026
14 hours ago
Basecamp Research cofounders Oliver Vince and Glen Gowers photographed walking down a street wearing puffer jackets.
AIEye on AI
Could data from 100 million species help cure disease? One startup is betting on it
By Sharon GoldmanMarch 19, 2026
16 hours ago
baseball catch before betmgm ad
Cryptosports betting
MLB embraces prediction markets with Polymarket deal and a pact with federal regulators to “protect the integrity of baseball”
By The Associated PressMarch 19, 2026
16 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.