China revises Cybersecurity Law to bolster AI development

The Standing Committee of China's top legislature on Tuesday passed revisions to the Cybersecurity Law that emphasize national support for basic artificial intelligence research, algorithm development, and the construction of training data resources and computing power.

The amended law will take effect Jan 1 next year after being approved at the 18th session of the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee in Beijing.

A newly added article states that the country supports basic theoretical research in AI and the development of key technologies such as algorithms, while promoting infrastructure construction, including training data resources and computing power.

In addition, the revisions call for improving AI ethics rules, strengthening risk monitoring, assessment and safety oversight, and promoting the application and sound development of AI, according to an official with the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission.

The revised law also encourages innovative cybersecurity management, including the use of AI and other new technologies to raise protection levels.

In a written reply to reporters on Tuesday, the commission official said the new AI-related provisions "actively responded to" practical needs in AI governance and development.

China's Cybersecurity Law was first enacted in 2016. This is its second revision, following an initial round of amendments reviewed in September.

The official said that as a foundational statute for the cybersecurity field, the law has established systems for network operation security, security of network products and services, protection of critical information infrastructure, and online information security.

Since its implementation in 2017, the law has "strongly curbed" activities harmful to cybersecurity, creating an increasingly clear cyberspace, the official said.

However, illegal activities such as network intrusions, cyberattacks and the spread of illegal content still occur frequently, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining cybersecurity, the official added.

The latest amendments refine liabilities for acts that harm network operation security, product and service security, and information security, according to the written reply. They also increase penalties and expand extraterritorial application where appropriate.

In addition, the revisions enhance coordination with the Data Security Law and the Personal Information Protection Law to improve the law's precision, effectiveness and consistency.

A Tuesday report by Xinhua News Agency said the latest changes aim to "meet new cybersecurity situations, tighten legal liability, and improve alignment with related laws."