China Tightens Internet Restrictions with New Rules
In a move that has sparked concerns about its potential impact, new rules that tighten Chinese government restrictions on the country’s internet companies have officially come into effect as of Wednesday.
The expanded State Secrets Law now requires firms such as social media giants Tencent, ByteDance, and Weibo to take action if users post sensitive information, marking the first update to the law in over a decade.
Under these new regulations, “network operators” must monitor information shared by users, remove posts deemed sensitive, and keep records that must be reported to authorities. The move aligns with President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on national security as the government tightens its grip on China’s vast technology industry.
When the updated rules were first announced in February, an official from the National Administration of State Secrets Protection highlighted the necessity of these measures, stating that “the guarding of state secrets faces new problems and challenges in the new era”.
Despite China’s existing strict regulations for internet companies, the recent changes establish a new standard for active self-monitoring and rapid cooperation, according to Hong Kong-based law professor Ryan Mitchell.
Notably, the revised rules also expand the definition of sensitive information to include “work secrets”, which could pose challenges for journalists, particularly foreign correspondents.
Concerns have been raised by Taiwan as well, with the Mainland Affairs Council warning that the vague nature of the legislation could put visitors from the island at risk of inadvertently breaking the law.
Although the definition of state secrets under the new regulations is considered broad and ambiguous, international law firm Baker McKenzie FenXun believes it is unlikely to significantly impact multinational companies operating in China.
While social media giant TikTok and its parent company ByteDance face increased scrutiny in Western countries, the new rules are not primarily aimed at regulating the overseas operations of Chinese firms, according to Mitchell. — BBC
