China could stagger the implementation of its tough new cyber laws in a bid to give industry entities more time to prepare. The news comes from Reuters, which cites sources who attended a meeting called by The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
The meeting had been called to inform all concerned entities regarding some last moment changes that had taken place in the implementation rules for China’s new Cyber Security Law. The laws are to come into effect from the 1st of June but, the CAC has reportedly introduced a new 18-month phase-in period from June.
This could mean that the laws wouldn’t come into full force until 2018. This comes after incessant efforts on part of industry bodies to get China to tone down its laws and failing that, at least give companies time to adjust to the new laws — which mandate control of data surveillance and storage. In a latter to the CAC, over 50 entities had complained that such a law could damage billions of dollars worth of business in across the border trade.
Along with making user consent a perquisite for when companies want to move data beyond the country borders, these new cyber laws also require companies to store all their data within China and pass security reviews.
The strict nature of the law has also prompted comment from various political bodies, including representatives of European countries, which have warned that doing so could lead to a negative mindset among companies. Regardless, China continues to push forward with the law and this 18-month period (assuming it actually is there) will be but a temporary respite.
