1,274 missing children in China found via mobile app

China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced on Wednesday that 1,274 missing children had been found over the past year following the launch of an app in May 2016.

During the period, 1,317 updates on missing children were posted on the app, and the children found include 40 who had been abducted, 750 who had run away from home, 192 who had been lost, 75 who died by drowning, as well as 29 who were murdered, according to the MPS.

A campaign called 宝贝回家 (Baby Back Home), launched in 2007, involves printing missing children notices on bottles of water sold in grocery stores, with the aim of gathering clues as to the children's whereabouts. /VCG Photo

A traditional way for parents to appeal for information regarding their missing or trafficked children is by posting notices. /VCG Photo

The app helps to ensure efficient sharing of information and collaboration between police in different regions, and encourages witnesses to report the whereabouts of missing or trafficked children, the MPS said.

Users near the site where a child disappeared receive push notifications, including photos and descriptions. The scope of these push notifications will be expanded over time.

MPS released statistics at a conference on Wednesday. /Xinhua Photo

Representatives from MPS, China National Radio, Alibaba, Baidu, OFO and Tencent at a ceremony for the launch of a newer version of the app, 团圆 (reunite), which was co-developed by these companies and organizations. /Xinhua Photo

An updated version of the platform went live on Wednesday. It has expanded its reach through cooperation with seven other media platforms, such as an emergency broadcasting center under China National Radio, a news app from Tencent and Yidao Yongche.

So far, the MPS app has formed a cooperative partnership with 40 new media and mobile applications, including Taobao (Alibaba Group), Baidu and QQ (Tencent Group).