<\/p>\n
The law, due to come into effect on 1 June, bans the collection and sale of users’ personal information.<\/p>\n
Firms will also have to store user data on servers inside China, and people will be given the right to have their information deleted.<\/p>\n
International business groups have appealed against its implementation.<\/p>\n
In a letter to the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) seen by the Reuters news agency, a group representing European business interests warned that it would lead to “great uncertainties and compliance risks”.<\/p>\n
The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China told the CAC that the law was “fraught with weaknesses” and called for its introduction to be delayed to “allow sufficient discussion”.<\/p>\n
But the CAC said the law would come into force this week as planned.<\/p>\n
“The purpose is to safeguard [China’s] national cyber-space sovereignty and national security… rather than to restrict foreign enterprises,” it said in a statement on its website.<\/p>\n
“It does not restrict foreign companies or their technology and products entering the Chinese market, neither does it limit the orderly, free flow of data in accordance with the law.”<\/p>\n
The legislation comes in at the same time as tighter regulations governing online news content<\/a>.<\/p>\n Companies that publish, share or edit news will need government-issued licences to operate, and senior staff must be approved by the authorities.<\/p>\n Organisations that do not have a licence will not be allowed to post news or commentary about the government, economy, military, foreign affairs, and “other areas of public interest”.<\/p>\n When those measures were announced, the CAC said they would “promote the healthy and orderly development of internet news”.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n