China adopts tough law on cyber-security

China today adopted a tough cybersecurity law which it said was aimed at safeguarding sovereignty on cyber space and national security, and to deal with related risks at home and abroad.

The new law was passed by China's legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC).

According to the new law, the government will take measures to "monitor, defend and handle cybersecurity risks and threats originating from within the country or overseas sources, protecting key information infrastructure from attack, intrusion, disturbance and damage".

Efforts will also be made to punish criminal activities online and safeguard the order and security of cyberspace, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Under the new law, individual users and organisations are not allowed to jeopardise security on the Internet or use it to "damage national security, honour and interests".

Online activities that are attempts to overthrow the socialist system, split the nation, undermine national unity, advocate terrorism and extremism are all prohibited, according to the provisions, which also forbade activities including inciting ethnic hatred, discrimination and spreading violence and obscene information online.

The law was passed at the bimonthly session of the NPC Standing Committee, which concluded today, after a third reading.

China administers internet with massive firewalls to protect from outside interventions.

It also effectively banned social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, and controls the local social media sites like Weibo through the firewalls blocking any content that harms the ruling Communist Party of China and the government.