Chinese Data Privacy Law

On Friday, China's National People's Congress passed a law designed to protect online user data privacy and implement the policy from Nov. 1, according to state media outlet Xinhua. The law's passage completes another pillar in the country's efforts to regulate cyberspace and is expected to add more compliance requirements for companies. China has instructed its tech giants to ensure better secure storage of user data amid public complaints about mismanagement and misuse, which have resulted in user privacy violations. The law further calls for personal information handlers to designate an individual in charge of personal information protection and for handlers to conduct periodic audits to ensure compliance with the law.