The third plenary meeting of the third session of China’s 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on March 12, 2015. (Photo : www.english.gov.cn)
Chinese lawmakers have seen the urgency of passing the cyber security law during the panel discussions of the bimonthly session of the top legislature, on June 26, Friday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
At the ongoing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which runs from June 24 to July 1, the draft law passed the first reading of the legislators.
The report said that lawmakers held that as a major user of the Internet, China is confronted with rising threats to cyber security, which involved national security as well as the rights and interests of citizens and organizations.
The Chinese solons believed that a law on cyber security should be in place to respond to the situation.
According to the report, the 68-article draft law contains mechanisms to guarantee the safety of Internet products and services, as well as network data, operation and information, and aims to "safeguard cyberspace sovereignty and national security."
The draft also stressed that personal information should be safeguarded from theft, leakage or illegal use as part of the protection for key information-related infrastructure.
At the panel discussion, the lawmakers said that the rights of Internet users and services, the protection of the orderly and free flow of information, and the use of Internet technology to spur innovation are highlighted in the draft law.
They however suggested that the draft should be further improved by incorporating the input of the lawmakers and the public into the draft legislation.
Cyber security in China has been a delicate issue, as the U.S. has continuously complained of breaches in online security which they claimed originated from China. The Chinese government, however, denied the claim and maintained that they are also victims of online hacking.
