China eases security checks for cross-border data transfers as it tries to boost economy
- Various categories of outbound data will not have to be reviewed under rules that came into effect on Friday
- The regulations are to promote the lawful, orderly, and free flow of data, cyberspace authority says
Under the new rules, which came into effect on Friday, businesses do not have to submit information related to cross-border shopping, shipping, payments or visa processing to official security checks.
This also applies to data involved in opening bank accounts, booking flights and hotels, and testing services.
In addition, businesses will not have to have reviews for personal employee information sent overseas as part of collective contracts or labour rules.
But data will still have to go through a security assessment if it relates to critical information infrastructure, or if in one year the transfers amount to the non-sensitive personal information of more than a million people, or involve the “sensitive information” of more than 10,000 people.