critical information infrastructure facilities

We have just received a revised draft of the Measures on Security Assessment of Cross-border Data Transfer of Personal Information and Important Data (Measures).  Here we outline the changes made to the draft Measures first issued on 11 April 2017 for public comment (see our previous briefing and blog post here). The revised draft is likely to be the final version of the Measures.  The Measures are to take effect on the same day as China’s Cyber Security Law (Cyber Security Law) on 1 June 2017.

On November 7, 2016, the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) voted to pass the Cyber Security Law (unofficial English translation). Its draft has gone through three rounds of readings and it will become effective from June 1, 2017. This legislation provides for the Chinese government’s supervisory jurisdiction over cyberspace, defines security obligations for network operators and enhances the protection over personal information. It also establishes a regulation regime in respect of critical information infrastructure and imposes data localization requirements for certain industries.

In this post, we outline the key changes it will bring about and discuss the implications for businesses in China.