Government puts safety at the top of the agenda

I didn't realize that cybersecurity risks were around until a few years ago, when I discovered that my account on QQ, an instant-messaging tool, had been hijacked.

At the time, a number of QQ contacts called to check if I was having difficulties in my life because they had received messages from a stranger, who was using my account to talk with them and had attempted to borrow money.

When I tried to log onto the account, I was told it had been altered or falsified by another person, meaning that I had to register a new one with a more secure password.

I didn't think such an incident could happen to me, because in my view (at the time), online security risks were just viruses that might attack my computer system and maybe even make it crash.

I never thought cyberattackers could imitate me to contact my friends after hijacking my account, and even commit targeted fraud by obtaining more accurate information, such as personal details.

So, when that occurred, I was shocked and quickly understood the importance of preventing online threats.

At the same time, I realized that such risks are hard to avoid in the fast-developing internet world, where we have to divulge personal information, such as phone numbers and home addresses, to benefit from online services, including food deliveries and shopping.

In other words, ensuring both cybersecurity and information security when our data has to be used online is a problem we must face and solve, both now and for a long time in the future.

After frequent telecom frauds, a boom in spam texts and serious security attacks from overseas, the government has made cybersecurity a top priority in many aspects of its work because it is heavily related to national security.

For example, in recent years, a number of laws have been drafted and passed to safeguard online security and data utilization.

As a reporter with a legal beat, I have been lucky enough to witness the drafting processes and adoption of these laws, so I can truly feel the accelerated legislative steps in cybersecurity issues.

I have been pleased to see the legislators respond to public concerns in a timely and specific manner.

For example, the Personal Information Protection Law, which took effect on Nov 1, stipulates that equipment used to collect people's images or establish their identities should only be set up in public places to maintain public security, and signs to that effect need to be clearly displayed.

That was a response to some people's complaints about cameras being installed in public places and stores to record personal information.

The Cybersecurity Law, which came into effect in 2017, required the relevant departments of the State Council, China's Cabinet, to update or amend national and industrial cybersecurity standards for online products, services and operations in line with their development.

It also ordered officials to provide people with deeper education about cybersecurity, and it called on businesses and universities to diversify the ways they cultivate related talent.

I believe that all these measures will play a bigger role in preventing online security risks and become an unofficial "firewall" when people surf the internet.