China is tightening control over information gathered by companies about the public under a law approved Friday by its ceremonial legislature, expanding the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s crackdown on private sector handling of data.
The law would impose some of the world’s strictest controls on private sector handling of information about individuals but appears not to affect the ruling party’s pervasive surveillance or access to those corporate data.
The law is similar to Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which limits collection and handling of customer data. But unlike laws in Western countries, earlier drafts of the Chinese legislation say nothing about limiting ruling party or government access to personal information.
The ruling party has been accused of using data gathered about Uyghurs and other members of predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in the northwestern region of Xinjiang to carry out a widespread campaign of repression.
Rebecca Arcesati, an analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies [said], “The message from the government to internet platform businesses is clear: Future growth will only be possible within the limits of what is good for the Chinese nation, which in turn is defined by the Chinese Communist Party.”
MacDailyNews Take: The CCP is exempt. Shocking.
Mark, could you please call Mr. Xi to assist the citizen’s impression that what’s happening is for their own welfare? You, Mr. Pinchmei, Mr. Goats, Mr. Bezod have been doing a stellar job in this realm, it was obvious that you’d be the best candidate to assuage any tumult that might arise in China from these policy changes.
Mr. Cuuk, perhaps you could assist at a secondary level–in realms that one might be called discrete–or euphemistically…on the down low? Plus, your long-working relationship with the CCP and following their laws, can only be advantageous at this sensitive time.
Replace the words (Communist Party) with tech any number of corporations. Sound familiar?
You cheered for unfettered capitalism, with unaccountable CEOs given carte blanche to get away with anything. You cheered Nixon’s opening China for business, Walmartization, and Thatcher/Reagan era consolidation. You watched silently as one by one every industry became a duopoly and shuttered domestic production. ONLY NOW you are understanding the need for a democratic government to rein in the oligarchs????
Maybe there is hope for you yet. Maybe.
Who is the “you” mentioned? Have you ever purchased anything from Amazon?