《网络安全法》管什么？
What does China’s Cybersecurity Law require?
Name: ________________ Date: ________
Key words
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 验证 | yànzhèng | to verify; to validate; verification |
| 通话 | tōnghuà | to talk on the phone; to call; phone call |
| 不得 | bùdé | must not; may not (formal) |
| 能源 | néngyuán | energy; energy source |
| 金融 | jīnróng | finance; banking |
| 存储 | cúnchǔ | to store; storage |
| 评估 | pínggū | evaluation; assessment; to evaluate; to assess |
| 则 | zé | then; whereas; in contrast (formal) |
| 社交 | shèjiāo | social interaction; social life |
| 施行 | shīxíng | to put into effect; to implement |
| 非法 | fēifǎ | illegal; unlawful |
| 境内 | jìngnèi | within the borders; domestic |
English (for the teacher)
In China, getting a SIM card or registering a social media account usually means first entering your ID number, or verifying with a phone number. Behind this is an important law: the Cybersecurity Law, in force since June 1, 2017.
The law sets out a few main things. The first is the “real-name system”: when network operators provide users with internet access, calls, posting and similar services, they must ask users for their true identity. The second is protecting personal information: companies collecting it must state what it is for and get consent, may not collect information unrelated to the service, and above all may not sell it illegally. The third is data storage: operators of critical information infrastructure (such as important networks in energy, transport and finance) should in principle store the personal information and important data they collect inside China inside China, and anything that truly must go abroad needs a security assessment.
Supporters say the law gives a clear legal basis for holding people responsible for online fraud and data leaks, and adds a layer of protection for ordinary users’ data. Many foreign companies and chambers of commerce, however, worry that keeping data inside China raises business costs, and that some provisions are worded broadly, leaving a lot of room in how they are enforced. Some human rights groups also argue that the real-name system makes it hard for people to express views anonymously.
In 2021 the Data Security Law and the Personal Information Protection Law came into force one after the other. Together, the three laws form the basic framework of how China governs networks and data.
In the country where you live, do you need your real name to go online?