China working on data privacy law but enforcement is a stumbling block
- Biometric data in particular needs to be protected from abuse from the state and businesses, analysts say
- Country is expected to have 626 million surveillance cameras fitted with facial recognition software by 2020
In what is seen as a major step to protect citizens’ personal information, especially their biometric data, from abuse, China’s legislators are drafting a new law to safeguard data privacy, according to industry observers – but enforcement remains a major concern.
“China’s private data protection law will be released and implemented soon, because of the fast development of technology, and the huge demand in society,” Zeng Liaoyuan, associate professor at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, said in an interview .
Technology is rapidly changing life in China but relevant regulations had yet to catch up, Zeng said.
Artificial intelligence and its many applications constitute a major component of China’s national plan. In 2017, the “Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan” called for the country to become the world leader in AI innovation by 2030.
Biometrics authentication is used in computer science as an identification or access control. It includes fingerprinting, face recognition, DNA, iris recognition, palm prints and other methods.