Chinese tech giants share details of their prized algorithms with top regulator in unprecedented move

China has introduced rules that aim to govern how technology platforms use recommendation algorithms. It is part of a broader push from Beijing to more closely regulate China’s domestic technology sector.

Chinese technology giants shared details of their prized algorithms with the country's regulators in an unprecedented move.

The Cyberspace Administration of China, one of the country's most powerful regulators, released a list of 30 algorithms on Friday along with a brief description of their purpose.

The law was brought in by China in March. The rules require companies to get a license to provide news services and allow users to opt out of recommendation algorithms.

The success of many of China's technology companies can be traced back to the use of logic. Information about that customer can be used to target users.

Over the past two years, Beijing has tightened regulation on China's technology sector in a bid to rein in the power of the country's giants.

Companies are required to file details of the algorithms with the cyberspace regulators.

There are very little details in the filing. The Chinese version of TikTok is used to recommend graphics, videos, products and services that may be of interest to users through behavioral data.

A user's historical search data is used to recommend content to them on the homepage and other parts of the app.

It's not clear how much insight the regulators had into the inner workings of the technology companies.

CNBC reached out to several companies for comments.

It is the first time that China has created a registration system for a computer program. The U.S. and European Union don't have a similar law like the one in China.