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China's Unprecedented Cyber Law Signals Its Intent To Protect a Precious Commodity: Data (technologyreview.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the new-regulations dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from MIT Technology Review: An aggressive new cybersecurity and data protection law in China that goes into effect today will have global ripple effects, and could serve as a model for other governments. But the Chinese government has also left many parts of the law vague -- likely an intentional move meant to allow the country to stake out its own sense of "cyber sovereignty" while waiting to see how the U.S., Europe, and others decide to regulate the flow of data across international borders. The new law is a resounding announcement from China that it intends to be a global player in controlling perhaps the most precious commodity of the digital economy: data. It's hard to know how the law will actually change things because the most controversial aspects of it are so vague. Among them is a requirement that certain companies submit their products to the government for cybersecurity checks, which may even involve reviewing source code. How often it would be required, and how the government will determine which products must be reviewed is unknown. This could come into play as part of China's broader regulatory push to expand law enforcement's power to access data during criminal investigations. Another vague directive calls for companies to store certain data within the country's borders, in the interest of safeguarding sensitive information from espionage or other foreign meddling. The government has delayed the implementation of this change until the end of 2018, however.

27 comments

  1. China a model for other governments??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is a joke right????

    1. Re:China a model for other governments??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is a joke right

      Time to get used to your new Chinese overlords.

      Now that the USA is busy castrating itself the Chinese dragon will flex its wings. Putin will live to regret reaping his rewards for sowing disunity and confusion among the West.

    2. Re:China a model for other governments??? by sit1963nz · · Score: 1

      No.

      If anything China is slowly becoming the voice of reason.

  2. why is this even news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    China is a communist dictatorship run by thugs and gangs. They can do anything they want to oppress the people that live there.

    1. Re:why is this even news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yet when TRUMP tries to get hard on disgusting CHina, the Maoist Leftists of TAMMANY HALL rail against it! And Google helps ARREST people in China for BLOOD MONEY.

    2. Re:why is this even news by Ronyonte · · Score: 2

      So absurd!You just misunderstand this country totally.

    3. Re:why is this even news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      If you disagree with the communists they dissappear you or throw you into jail or hard labor. I think i understand them pretty good.

  3. TRUMP IS RIGHT. Enemedia Presslitutes are WRONG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Remember that time Donald Trump was paid $500,000 to give a speech in Moscow?
    Oh no, wait... that was BILL CLINTON.

    Remember that time Trump failed to disclose Russian donors to his foundation before he served as Sec of State?
    Oh no, wait, that was HILLARY CLINTON
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember the time Trump was business partners with Russian govt? His company received $35M from Russia?
    Oh no wait, that was JOHN PODESTA
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember the time Trump scored $145M from shareholders of a uranium company that was sold to the Russians?
    Oh no, wait... that was HILLARY CLINTON again.
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember the time that President Trump gave $150 Billion to a terrorist state and a sworn enemy of the United States. Then later shipped pallets full of small denomination unmarked bills to the same terrorist state and sworn enemy?
    Oh no, that was President BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA.
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember when President Trump said it served justice to allow those under investigation to destroy evidence taking a hammer to cell phones and laptop hard drives?
    Oh no wait, that was JAMES COMEY.
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember that time President Trump destroyed evidence subpoenaed by Congress and the FBI?
    Oh no wait, that was HILLARY CLINTON.
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember that time Donald Trump approved the sale of 20% of U.S. uranium to the Russians?
    Oh no, wait... that was HILLARY CLINTON.
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    With such a target-rich environment there, remind me again why we are still investigating President Trump? Especially after a year of CIA, FBI, NSA, 2 Congressional investigations that found not a whiff of evidence.

    Is something else going on besides "following the evidence"?

    Remember when ANONYMOUS and WIKILEAKS LEAKED REAL DOCUMENTS and the Media and the Globalists poo poo THOSE REAL EMAILS, Including COMEY-who rimjobs Obama- but the ENEMEDIA PRESSLITUTES LAME STREAM MEDIA and the Globalists now use "anonymous" and false accusations on trumpt with Russia!?

    The REAL LEAKS lose to dis-information!

  4. China needs to be STOPPED by TRUMP. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Remember that time Donald Trump was paid $500,000 to give a speech in Moscow?
    Oh no, wait... that was BILL CLINTON.

    Remember that time Trump failed to disclose Russian donors to his foundation before he served as Sec of State?
    Oh no, wait, that was HILLARY CLINTON
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember the time Trump was business partners with Russian govt? His company received $35M from Russia?
    Oh no wait, that was JOHN PODESTA
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember the time Trump scored $145M from shareholders of a uranium company that was sold to the Russians?
    Oh no, wait... that was HILLARY CLINTON again.
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember the time that President Trump gave $150 Billion to a terrorist state and a sworn enemy of the United States. Then later shipped pallets full of small denomination unmarked bills to the same terrorist state and sworn enemy?
    Oh no, that was President BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA.
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember when President Trump said it served justice to allow those under investigation to destroy evidence taking a hammer to cell phones and laptop hard drives?
    Oh no wait, that was JAMES COMEY.
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember that time President Trump destroyed evidence subpoenaed by Congress and the FBI?
    Oh no wait, that was HILLARY CLINTON.
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    Remember that time Donald Trump approved the sale of 20% of U.S. uranium to the Russians?
    Oh no, wait... that was HILLARY CLINTON.
    Crooked corrupt liars...
    With such a target-rich environment there, remind me again why we are still investigating President Trump? Especially after a year of CIA, FBI, NSA, 2 Congressional investigations that found not a whiff of evidence.

    Is something else going on besides "following the evidence"?

    Remember when ANONYMOUS and WIKILEAKS LEAKED REAL DOCUMENTS and the Media and the Globalists poo poo THOSE REAL EMAILS, Including COMEY-who rimjobs Obama- but the ENEMEDIA PRESSLITUTES LAME STREAM MEDIA and the Globalists now use "anonymous" and false accusations on trumpt with Russia!?

    The REAL LEAKS lose to dis-information! FUCK!

    1. Re:China needs to be STOPPED by TRUMP. by TroII · · Score: 1

      ENEMEDIA PRESSLITUTES LAME STREAM MEDIA and the Globalists

      Mr. Bannon, it's time for your medication, sir. Does the gentleman prefer vodka or gin tonight?

      --
      "If there was a gay Afro-Puertorican Linux distribution, I'd give it a try" ~lucm
    2. Re:China needs to be STOPPED by TRUMP. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You seem angry. But as luck would have it, today is national "Say something nice" day - and I am celebrating by cheering up angry people on the internet. So here is something especially for you:

      You know, you’re almost as wonderful as pizza. Almost. And if I were allowed to marry food, I would still choose you over pizza. I bet being with you is more fun than coloring in a coloring book, and I bet your kids are the best behaved children in the restaurant.

      Cheers!

    3. Re:China needs to be STOPPED by TRUMP. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But in fatally weakening the US, Trump is enabling the rise of China. And here you are still thinking the real game is Republicans vs Democrats.

    4. Re:China needs to be STOPPED by TRUMP. by Picodon · · Score: 1

      My goodness, so much proven criminal corruption!

      Fortunately, those horrible crooked corrupt liars guilty of criminal acts are facing the merciless might of implacable yet righteous enemies: the Republican party and Donald Trump, who now fully control all facets of the federal government and therefore have complete freedom to carry out Trump’s campaign promise: that those crooked corrupt liars are going to jail! Drain the swamp! Yeah!

      So Well, what are they waiting for, huh? It’s been five months already

      Any problem following suit?

      Or was that just hollow fact-free slander aimed at gullible people?

    5. Re:China needs to be STOPPED by TRUMP. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My goodness, so much proven criminal corruption!

      LOL when I read this first line, and before being overcome by the fumes of smelting iron, I thought this was going to be a response to this comment below.

    6. Re:China needs to be STOPPED by TRUMP. by knightghost · · Score: 1

      Actually it was Clinton that enabled China's rise with Free Trade then Obama sitting back doing nothing the last 8 years during China's aggression.

    7. Re:China needs to be STOPPED by TRUMP. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      ... the last 8 years during China's aggression.

      The USA is still building bases in the Korean Sea and the Sea of Japan. Let's not forget 60 years of US aggression.

  5. Timeline of Treason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Dec. 10, 2015
    Lt. Gen Michael Flynn is part of a panel discussion in Moscow for the 10th anniversary of government-backed Russia Today, for which he receives payment (The Washington Post, Aug. 15, 2016). Officials notice an increase in communication between Flynn and the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, following the Russia Today event (CNN, May 19, 2017).

    Late 2015
    British intelligence agencies detect suspicious interactions between Russia and Trump aides that they pass on to American intelligence agencies (The Guardian, April 13, 2017).

    March 19, 2016
    Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta is sent an email that encourages him to change his email password, likely precipitating the hack of his account (CBS News, Oct. 28, 2016).

    March 21
    During an interview with The Post, Trump lists Carter Page as part of his foreign policy team. Page had been recommended by a son-in-law of President Richard Nixon, New York Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox (WP, March 21, 2016).

    March 28
    Political veteran Paul Manafort is hired to help the Trump campaign manage the delegate process for the Republican National Convention. He is recommended by Trump confidante Roger Stone (New York Times, March 28, 2016). Before joining the campaign, Manafort lobbied on behalf of Oleg Deripaska, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. That deal followed a memo from Manafort in which he offered a plan that could "greatly benefit the Putin Government." His relationship with Deripaska ended in 2009 (Associated Press, March 22, 2017). Manafort also worked on behalf of the Russia-friendly Party of Regions in Ukraine, helping guide the party's leader, Viktor Yanukovych, to the country's presidency. Yanukovych would later be ousted. (WP, Aug. 19, 2016)

    April 27
    Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) may have met with Kislyak at a reception at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington before a foreign-policy speech given by Trump (CNN, May 31, 2017).

    June
    At a closed-door meeting of foreign policy experts and the prime minister of India, Page praises Putin effusively (WP, Aug. 5, 2016).

    June 15
    A hacker calling himself "Guccifer 2.0" releases the Democratic National Committee's research file on Donald Trump (Gawker, June 15, 2016). News reports already link the stolen data to Russian hackers (WP, June 14, 2016).

    July
    At some point this month, the FBI begins investigating possible links between the Russian government and Trump's campaign (Wired, March 20, 2017).

    July 7
    Page travels to Moscow to give a lecture (NYT, April 19, 2017). The Trump campaign approved the trip (USA Today, March 7, 2017). This trip was likely the catalyst for the FBI's request for a secret surveillance warrant to track PageÃfs communications (WP, May 25, 2017).

    July 11 or 12
    Trump campaign staffers intervene with the committee developing the Republican Party's national security platform to remove language call arming Ukraine against Russian aggression. (July 18, 2016).

    July 18
    At an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation as part of the Republican National Convention, Sessions and Kislyak have a brief conversation (WP, March 2, 2017).

    Flynn delivers a speech at the Republican convention, joining in the crowd's "Lock her up!" chant. "If I, a guy who knows this business, if I did a tenth of what she did," Flynn said, "I would be in jail today" (C-Span, July 18, 2016).

    July 22
    Wikileaks releases emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee (WP, July 22, 2017).

    Jul. 27
    During his last news conference of the campaign, Trump asks Russia to release emails hacked from Clinton's private server. He later says that he was joking (WP, July, 27, 2016).

    Aug. 9
    Flynn Intel Group, a consulting firm founded by Flynn, signs a contract with Inovo BV, a firm run by a Turkish businessman close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for more than $500,000 (Daily Caller, Nov. 11, 2016).

    Aug. 15
    The New York Times reports on secret ledge

  6. The internet is splintering apart by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    China is only speeding things along with shit like this.

  7. Hahahahaha by bluegutang · · Score: 1

    China concerned about intellectual property. LOL.

  8. Value of Data? by rtb61 · · Score: 1

    The value of data is an illusion, in reality the uses to which it is currently put will likely become illegal, so zero value, just a cost. So it is with regard to security aspects and where the data is held, who can access it and what they can do with it. Easiest security response crack down on it's collection, only sufficient for taxation purposes and medical purposes. The reality is targeted marketing doesn't generates the profits claimed, else they would be bragging about the numbers, instead they pump the illusion with generalisations and most of the marketing is targeted at the advertisers.

    Likely countries will institute data controls across the board, all locally stored, all locally audited and generating local employment.

    --
    Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  9. Censorship potential? by shanen · · Score: 1

    Disappointing discussion. No humor and no consideration of the potential use of the new law for censorship.

    --
    Freedom = (Meaningful - Coerced) Choice != (Speech | Beer^2), and sad sock puppets' bad mods avail them naught.
  10. What a terrible Slashdot headline by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Data?
    Document files?
    Software?
    Books?
    Knowledge?
    Text?
    Statistics?
    Meta-data?

    Since WHEN did "data" become a commodity? What a nonsense idea!

    Terrible headline!

  11. IoS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Finally, those little networked pieces of .. things might get a review process. World will be safer as a result. I hope.

  12. "let's forget it was mentioned" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this is a water-shed moment.
    it doesnt matter if china can make nukes, or rockets or tanks or stealth fighters because of leaked intellectual property (IP).
    the linch pin is IP pertaining to retaining data.
    all the paper laws can be made, if the real manufacturers of data retention technology don't agree, then they will be barred from selling their products in china but then china will be in a situation where they don't have the IP to COPY the technology to retain data and thus to remember how much money and dept and unfair laws they have made ...

    me, personally, i'd stop selling harddisks and ssds in china and see how it goes ...

  13. What data? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just data from /dev/random or something specific?

  14. Somebody is naive... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    China cares about data?
    Talk of security in this instance is a smokescreen.

    China wants to review source code so they can copy it, not to "ensure security".

    They also have no interest in securing data within the country except to keep it themselves and scrape it for anything valuable to the government (or engage in censorship).

    This is about a powergrab with security as a facade to sucker schmucks like the people that wrote this synopsis into thinking China cares about them.

  15. Chinese Copy Right Law by MooseMiester · · Score: 0

    Yes, we copied it right. Any questions?

    --
    Murphy was an optimist