Progress on privacy

September 1 2013 will mark an important milestone for China in the development of its data privacy laws. Conventional wisdom has been that there is very little regulation of data privacy in China to be concerned about. The past two years have forced a re-examination of this understanding, and the Provisions on the Protection of Personal Information of Telecommunications and Internet Users (电信和互联网用户个人信息保护规定) (Personal Information Provisions) coming into force on September 1 represent a culmination of gradual reforms which will, in relation to the collection and processing of data through telecommunications and internet services, see China's data privacy standards become comparable to international ones.

China's progress towards international standards in data privacy regulation has been slow but deliberate. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China's regulator in relation to telecommunications and technology matters, had previously issued rules in this area, but never with comprehensive scope. The promulgation on December 28 2012 by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the Decision on Strengthening the Protection of Online Information (全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于加强网络信息保护的决定) (Online Information Decision) was an important signal of intent which has now been given more detailed expression in the Personal Information Provisions.