China Progresses Development of Data Security Law

Source: Regulation Asia Editors, Regulation Asia 2020-07-08

The draft law says the government will protect the rights of individuals and organisations over the use of their data.

China’s NPC (National People’s Congress) Standing Committee has published a draft Data Security Law, designed to establish basic data protections for individuals.

The draft law contains measures to support and promote data security and development, improve the governance of data security, and the level of data exploitation and utilisation, as well as facilitate the development of the digital economy, reports Xinhua.

The draft law is part of a review by the NPC, which it plans to complete by the end of this year. It was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for a first reading on Sunday (5 July). Lawmakers typically vote on new legislation after three readings.

China’s new cybersecurity law came into force in 2017, but it provides only broad objectives for data security, despite the country’s rapid development of its digital economy and the artificial intelligence and big data sectors.

According to the SCMP, the new draft says the government will protect the “legitimate rights of individuals and organisations” over the use of their data, and additionally sets out technical requirements for data protection and specifies the rights and responsibilities of different stakeholders and regulators.

“For individuals, if their personal data is leaked or stolen, they will have legal protection when this law is implemented,” said Zeng Liaoyuan, an associate professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu.

According to Zeng, the law will have the biggest impact on businesses because it promotes the use of government data through a “standardised, interconnected, safe and controllable open platform”.

The draft also states that China will establish a data review system and an export control regime to safeguard national security.

China’s NPC Standing Committee

Data Security Law

China Progresses Development of Data Security Law

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