Photo shows the anti-corruption smartphone app released by China's top anti-corruption watchdog, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China. [Photo/crienglish.com]

A newly released anti-corruption app has led to an instant increase in the number of public reports on corruption since last Thursday.

Nearly 700 reports were submitted on the first day after China's top anti-corruption watchdog released an app which allows the public to report evidence of official's corruption.

The anti-corruption authorities received more than 1,000 public reports, and nearly 70 percent were communicated via snapshots, text messages or videos uploaded through the new app.

There were only around 250 to 300 cases per day before launching the app.

The app allows the public to report any corruption cases of Chinese officials, who misuse public funds or vehicles, or break any of the frugality rules.

The watchdog says the app opens a faster and more convenient channel for the public to report corruption cases and scrutinize officials.

The watchdog has also set up a response mechanism, which categorizes the reports, refers them to higher authorities and responds to whistleblowers.