Computer hacker photo illustration arranged in Tiskilwa, Illinois, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg
China yesterday passed sweeping new legislation reinforcing government controls over cyberspace in the wake of what it describes as growing threats to Chinese networks and national security.
The vaguely worded National Security Law calls for strengthened management over the web and tougher measures against online attacks, theft of secrets, and the spread of illegal or harmful information.
It said core information technology, critical infrastructure and important systems and data must be “secure and controllable” in order protect China’s sovereignty over its cyberspace.
The law offered no details on how China would achieve the goals set out, although a vast government Internet monitoring system has been in place for years.
China says it is a major target of hacking and other cyber-attacks, while the ruling Communist Party has expended vast efforts in blocking content available in China deemed by it to be subversive or illegal.
China is also accused of running a state-sponsored effort to hack computers and steal government and commercial secrets overseas, while also spying on and harassing pro-democracy, Tibetan and human rights groups based abroad.
Most recently, Beijing was suspected as being behind a massive hack into a U.S. federal government computer server that resulted in the theft of personnel and security clearance records of 14 million employees and contractors. Chinese officials always deny engaging in such actions.
The National Security Law, passed overwhelmingly by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s rubberstamp legislature, replaces an earlier version that focused more narrowly on counter-espionage.
In addition to cyberspace, the new legislation covers a wide range of areas including the economy, social stability, territorial integrity, the military, culture, finance, technology, the environment and food safety.
Spokeswoman Zheng Shu’na said an overarching legislation was needed to deal with “ever-growing security challenges”.
“Externally speaking, the country must defend its sovereignty, as well as security and development interests, and… it must also maintain political security and social stability,” Zheng was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency. Christopher Bodeen, Beijing, AP
Cy Leung rules out Security Law for HK
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying yesterday dismissed fears over the impact China’s newly adopted national security law could have for Hong Kong, ruling out any attempt to enact the controversial Article 23 of the Basic Law, the South China Morning Post reported. Pro-democracy lawmakers have suggested the Hong Kong government may soon attempt to resurrect national security legislation last attempted in 2003 but Leung denied there would be any impact on the city. “It is a piece of national law. It doesn’t apply to Hong Kong,” he said. But he added: “Naturally, Hong Kong is part of the country and has the responsibility and obligation to protect the security of the country.”
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