Keeping transparent users and inner ghosts at bay

The revised Internet Security Review Measures came into force on Feb 15.
The measures include cyber security reviews for the data processing activities of network platform operators that concern or may affect national security, and explicitly require network platform operators with personal information of more than 1 million users to report to the cyber security review department if they go public abroad.

The implementation of the measures has sent a clear signal to enterprises that their development must be in accordance with laws and regulations and not harm national security.

As the added value of the core industries of the digital economy is expected to account for 10 percent of China's gross domestic product by 2025, data security has become an important part of national security.

Attacks on critical information infrastructure, information theft and other malicious activities related to data security have increased in recent years.

And 106 apps were removed from the app stores by the end of 2021 due to infringement on users' rights and interests, among which the problem of "illegally collecting personal information" was particularly prominent, creating "transparent users" as a result.

As the revised measures indicate, companies should guard against "inside ghosts" to ensure that only authorized employees have access to user data.

And they should also beware of hackers and foreign thieves and their important data should be isolated from external networks. Also the companies should establish accountability systems to ensure those responsible for data leaks are punished accordingly.

The internet platform companies must further enhance their risk awareness in network operation and data processing, uphold safety and shoulder their responsibilities.