A TECH firm, Shenzhen Goome Technology Co., demanded 100 million yuan (US$14.9 million) in compensation from a rival for allegedly hacking its database and stealing big data, the Nanfang Daily reported. Several suspects were arrested, according to the procuratorate of Nanshan District.

    Goome has developed an app named “Kumike” that provides instant locations of upcoming buses and the time users might spend waiting for the next bus. Its rival, Wuhan Yuanguang Tech Co. developed a similar app called “Chelaile.”

    “Goome invested almost 100 million yuan in the stolen data, which was not yet for sale or authorized to be used by other companies. Based on financial estimates within our industry, the data may be worth up to 2 billion yuan,” said Li Liming, a partner of Goome. “The key to providing instant bus locations lies in the big data. Aside from buying the data, we had to collaborate with different bus groups because we wanted to install location sensors on their buses.”

    In October last year, Goome’s database in Beijing was hacked, and a huge amount of data was stolen. The tech firm called the Gaoxin Police Station in Nanshan District for help and had the case put on file in January.

    After an initial investigation, police found the tech firm’s opponent, Wuhan Yuanguang Tech Co., was suspected of theft. In June, police arrested the founder of Yuanguang, surnamed Shao, and other suspects. Nanshan police said the case is still under investigation.

    “These days our lives have already become tightly connected to big data, so protection of big data is an urgent issue now,” said Zhang Xingbin, a legal commentator in Shenzhen.

    (Zhang Xiaoyi)