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China’s state broadcaster is taking a harsh stance on digital agencies that track consumer online behavior, accusing them in a March 15 TV report of illicitly collecting personal informationa bad omen for Western companies specializing in consumer data that are now eyeing the Chinese market.

That the expose-style report aired on CCTV, the government mouthpiece, suggests Beijing may be tightening supervision of companies that can access consumers’ personal data.

Using hidden cameras, a CCTV reporter apparently posing as a prospective client had conversations with employees at five local digital-ad agencies. Agency employees told the reporter they use cookies to access web users’ personal information, including gender, age, marital status, education, salary and email addresses, to more accurately target consumers with online advertising. The story featured footage from what appeared to be the offices of agencies Yoyi and Avazu. The agencies were not given a chance to respond to the allegations.

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