China Pushes Controversial Cybersecurity Law

China Cybersecurity Law

China passed cybersecurity legislation on Monday (Nov. 7) to combat the growing number of threats of hacking and terrorism. However, Reuters reported that the new law has generated concerns from foreign companies and rights groups.

Critics claim that the law will shut out foreign technology businesses from important sectors and includes stringent requirements for security reviews and for data to be stored on Chinese servers.

Activists have also taken issue with the law because they believe it will boost the country’s internet restrictions, which are some of the world’s most sophisticated online censorship mechanisms.

Yang Heqing, a National People’s Congress standing committee official, told Reuters that China’s internet is already linked to the country’s national security and development.

“China is an internet power and, as one of the countries that faces the greatest internet security risks, urgently needs to establish and perfect network security legal systems,” he told reporters.

The law is set to take effect in June 2017, despite more than 40 global business groups petitioning Beijing to modify what they believed were controversial parts of the legislation.

“Despite widespread international concern from corporations and rights advocates for more than a year, Chinese authorities pressed ahead with this restrictive law without making meaningful changes,” explained Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, in an email statement.