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China Passes Law Requiring Tech Firms To Hand Over Encryption Keys (betanews.com)

Posted by timothy on from the law-vs-legislation dept.

Mark Wilson writes: Apple may have said that it opposes the idea of weakening encryption and providing governments with backdoors into products, but things are rather different in China. The Chinese parliament has just passed a law that requires technology companies to comply with government requests for information, including handing over encryption keys.

Under the guise of counter-terrorism, the controversial law is the Chinese government's attempt to curtail the activities of militants and political activists. China already faces criticism from around the world not only for the infamous Great Firewall of China, but also the blatant online surveillance and censorship that takes place. This latest move is one that will be view very suspiciously by foreign companies operating within China, or looking to do so.

6 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. China by liqu1d · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Please stop being the UK govs role model...

  2. This might be good for the USA by giltwist · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just like the USA distanced itself from eugenics (such as the mandatory sterilization of people with mental disabilities) when it got popular with the Nazis, maybe China demanding encryption keys will get some American politicians to back off of the idea.

    1. Re:This might be good for the USA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Too late, they already passed CISA. America has already demanded the encryption keys as "information sharing."

    2. Re:This might be good for the USA by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Politicians in the U.S. and Europe will have no difficulty in, on the one hand, decrying this as an oppressive move by a non-democratic government while simultaneously, on the other hand, continuing to demand that THEY need exactly the same thing in order to combat terrorism.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
  3. Re:Damn! They beat us to the punch! by penguinoid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wait, if the Chinese are doing it, doesn't that mean that it's an evil commie tactic that no God-fearing American would ever even suggest using?

    --
    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  4. How interested is Apple in selling stuff in China? by QuietLagoon · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The answer to that question is the answer to the larger issue here.

    .
    If Apple wants to continue selling devices in China (which is a needed market for Apple, as the US market is becoming saturated), then Apple will comply with the laws of China.

    It's as simple as that.