Old Version
The Cybersecurity Law of China came into force on June 1. The law is the first of its kind in the country, and pays particular attention to protecting personal information.
China has had to confront serious challenges posed by the misappropriation of personal information in recent years. For example, smartphone applications have become carriers of malicious programs that steal information without users knowing.
The absence of any laws in this area contribute to the scale of the challenge. Previously, there were only the regulations on information security issued by certain departments. They lacked the power to deter offenders, given the absence of clear definitions and effective punishments.
The new law lays out clear requirements for information collectors and network operators in terms of their obligation to protect personal information. For example, information can’t be passed to third parties without consent.
