Key in your name, and you may find your mobile phone number on the website.

Chinese website www.mingpian.com (literally name card) has captured huge attention recently by revealing the business card information of over two million people.

The information, including the person's mobile and office phone numbers, e-mail and company address, was posted on the website without the owners' consent.

A person registering on the website can browse a total of 10 name cards. Visitors can earn another two cards if they contribute one to the website.

"Many of the name cards were contributed by our staff through their personal connections," said the website's press officer surnamed Tai, who refused to give her full name.

The website claims to provide valuable business information for China's sales and marketing people, and help companies recruit competent employees for less time and money. All the information is free.

With five million clicks every month, the website is popular, but controversial with the public.

"Disclosing people's business and personal information without their permission is an infringement of privacy," said Liu Zuoxiang, a professor at China's Academy of Social Sciences.

"I never revealed my information to this website and their behavior violated my privacy," said Mao Qinglin, marketing manager of China's Lenovo Computer Limited. Mao's name was the most-frequently clicked IT contact on the website.

Others had a different opinion.

Xu Huanming, a manager with IT company Cisco System China, was surprised to know that his information was available on the website. But he thought it was an "efficient way of publicizing and delivering information to customers".

A website employee confirmed that they had received protests from certain people whose business cards were posted on the website. "We've deleted their information as requested."

The employee defended the website, saying that it focused on business, rather than personal information.

The website tries to avoid legal disputes by stipulating in an agreement with users that they must not conduct illegal activities through the website and must be solely responsible for information they provide.

The officer referred to an American website, www.jigsaw.com, similar to www.mingpian.com, which has been operating for two years without any law suits.

However, mobile numbers and other personal contact information is prohibited on Jigsaw.

The website www.mingpian.com is not alone in the information business.

In December 2005, Beijing Morning Post reported on a Chinese website, www.ucloo.com, which claimed to sell information about more than 90 million people. Reports said that, under heavy public pressure, the website was considering deleting information.

Individuals' privacy is protected under China's Civil Law. China has started drafting a new law to protect personal information.

"Information including people's mobile phone number, family address and occupation will be protected under the draft law," said Zhou Hanhua, a law professor with China's Academy of Social Sciences.

"If you submit your resume for a job, then the company is obligated to safeguard your personal information. If your information is disclosed by the company, deliberately or not, the company will be regarded as violating the law," Zhou said, who is also one of the drafters of the law.

Editor: Wing