On September 30, 2018, China’s Ministry of Public Security (“MPS”) released the Regulation on the Internet Security Supervision and Inspection by Public Security Organs (the “Regulation”;《公安机关互联网安全监督检查规定》), which will take effect on November 1, 2018.

As the latest regulation issued by MPS that implements China’s Cybersecurity Law (“CSL”), which took effect in June last year, the Regulation sets forth detailed procedural guidance describing how Public Security Bureaus (China’s police force, commonly referred to as “PSBs”) conduct cybersecurity inspections of companies that provide a broad range of “Internet services” in China.

Scope and Applicability

Specifically, the Regulation permits local PSBs (at the county level and above) to conduct cybersecurity inspections on four types of Internet service providers and “network-using entities” (联网使用单位)[1] (collectively, “Internet service providers”):

  • providers of Internet access, data centers, content distribution, and domain name services;
  • providers of Internet information services;
  • providers of Internet access to the public; and
  • providers of other Internet services.

Precisely which companies will be subject to the Regulation is unclear, as the Regulation leaves local PSBs broad discretion to decide whether a company falls into the Regulation’s purview, including the ability to interpret what services are considered “other Internet services.”

PSBs’ Power and Inspection Procedures

The Regulation provides local PSBs a wide range of power and discretion to inspect an Internet service provider’s premises and network, both on-site and remotely. Specifically, PSBs are authorized to enter a company’s physical premises—including data centers—to conduct an unannounced onsite inspection, review and copy documents, and interview company executives. PSBs are also authorized to conduct remote inspections, provided that the company is informed of the time and scope of the inspection before the inspection is conducted. In addition, PSBs are allowed to engage qualified third party vendors to provide technical support for the PSB’s inspections.

A PSB’s inspection can focus on whether the company has:

  • filed for record with the PSB as a “network-using entity”;
  • implemented internal cybersecurity programs and appointed an officer in charge of cybersecurity;
  • recorded and retained registration information and web logs of users;
  • taken measures to prevent computer viruses and cyberattacks;
  • taken measures to prevent the transmission and publication of illegal content;
  • cooperated and provided assistance to PSBs in investigations relating to national security, terrorism, and crimes; and
  • fulfilled its obligations to meet the requirements of the Cybersecurity Multi-Level Protection Scheme (“MLPS”), which requires network operators take certain measures to protect their networks based on their relative impact on national security, social order, and economic interests if the system is damaged or attacked.

Further, PSBs are required to keep records of all inspections, which must be signed by the PSB officer(s) conducting the inspection and any qualified third party vendors who provided technical support for the inspection. In the case of an on-site inspection, a company executive or officer in charge of cybersecurity is also required to sign the inspection record. Although the company can offer explanations in the inspection record if it disagrees with the result of the inspection, the company representative is required to sign the record; refusing to sign the inspection record will be noted in the inspection record itself.

Penalties

If a company fails an inspection, PSBs are authorized to impose a range of penalties. For minor administrative violations, PSBs are authorized to request that the company remediates the issue. The company can request another inspection after it has completed the remediation.

For more substantive violations, the Regulation provides a laundry list of penalties under the CSL and China’s Counter-Terrorism Law (“CTL”; 《中国反恐怖主义法》) enacted in 2015 for failures to implement cybersecurity measures and engagement in illegal conduct relating to cybersecurity. These penalties, ranging from warnings and orders to remediate to the imposition of substantial fines and detention of individuals, are summarized in the chart below.

Violation Penalty
Failure to implement cybersecurity management systems and procedures or failure to designate an officer in charge of cybersecurity. Article 21(1) CSL Article 59 – order to remediate and a warning; monetary fines on company and on responsible individuals
Failure to take measures to prevent computer virus, cyberattacks and other activities endangering cybersecurity. Article 21(2)
Failure to maintain records of Internet service users registration information and web logs. Article 21(3)
Where the company is engaged in providing services relating to Internet content distribution or instant messaging, failure to request service users to provide true identity or provides services to users that did not provide true identity. Article 21(4)

 

 

 

CSL Article 61 – order to remediate; monetary fines on company and on responsible individual(s); shutting down websites and revoking business permit.

CTL Article 86 (if failed to verify users’ identity or provides services to unidentified users): monetary fines on company and on responsible individual(s)

Failure to cease, remove, and maintain records of the transfer of illegal or prohibited content in the course of providing public information services.   Article 21(5) CSL Article 68 or 69

CTL Article 84 (if failed to remove, keep records of, or cease the transfer of terrorism information, or stop services) – monetary fines on company and on responsible individual(s); where the violation is deemed serious, in addition to monetary fines, individuals may also be detained for five to 15 days.

Failure to provide technical support and cooperate with PSBs’ activities relating to national security or criminal investigation. Article 21(6) CSL Article 69

CTL Article 84

Where the inspection identifies that the company has illegally obtained, sold, or otherwise provided to others personal information and where the conduct does not constitute a crime. Article 22 CSL Article 64 – confiscation of illegal gains and a fine between one time and ten times of the illegal gains; where there is no illegal gains, a fine below RMB 1 million shall be imposed.
Where the inspection identifies that the company has placed malware in the services it provides. Article 23 CSL Article 60(1) – order to remediate and a warning; monetary fines on company and on responsible individual(s)
Where the company refuses inspection or obstructs the inspection. Article 24 CSL Article 69

CTL Article 91 and 92 – monetary fines on company and on responsible individual(s); where the violation is deemed serious, in addition to monetary fines, individuals may also be detained for five to 15 days.

Impact

Even though the Regulation codifies existing practices rather than imposing wholly new obligations, the Regulation will likely pave the way for more cybersecurity enforcement actions from PSBs in the future. The Regulation also potentially overlaps with other MPS regulations aiming to implement the CSL, such as the Regulations on Cybersecurity Multi-level Protection Scheme, and further guidance from MPS is expected to clarify how different implementing regulations interact.

[1] According to the Administrative Measures for the Protection of International Networking Security of Computer Information Networks (《计算机信息网络国际联网安全保护管理办法》), which was issued by MPS in 1997 and amended in 2011, “network-using entities” are entities connected to the Internet and are required to file with local PSBs for record.

Print:
Email this postTweet this postLike this postShare this post on LinkedIn
Photo of Yan Luo Yan Luo

Yan Luo advises clients on a broad range of regulatory matters in connection with data privacy and cybersecurity, antitrust and competition, as well as international trade laws in the United States, EU, and China.

Yan has significant experience assisting multinational companies navigating the…

Yan Luo advises clients on a broad range of regulatory matters in connection with data privacy and cybersecurity, antitrust and competition, as well as international trade laws in the United States, EU, and China.

Yan has significant experience assisting multinational companies navigating the rapidly-evolving Chinese cybersecurity and data privacy rules. Her work includes high-stakes compliance advice on strategic issues such as data localization and cross border data transfer, as well as data protection advice in the context of strategic transactions. She also advises leading Chinese technology companies on global data governance issues and on compliance matters in major jurisdictions such as the European Union and the United States.

Yan regularly contributes to the development of data privacy and cybersecurity rules and standards in China. She chairs Covington’s membership in two working groups of China’s National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee (“TC260”), and serves as an expert in China’s standard-setting group for Artificial Intelligence and Ethics.

Photo of Ashden Fein Ashden Fein

Ashden Fein advises clients on cybersecurity and national security matters, including crisis management and incident response, risk management and governance, government and internal investigations, and regulatory compliance.

For cybersecurity matters, Mr. Fein counsels clients on preparing for and responding to cyber-based attacks, assessing…

Ashden Fein advises clients on cybersecurity and national security matters, including crisis management and incident response, risk management and governance, government and internal investigations, and regulatory compliance.

For cybersecurity matters, Mr. Fein counsels clients on preparing for and responding to cyber-based attacks, assessing security controls and practices for the protection of data and systems, developing and implementing cybersecurity risk management and governance programs, and complying with federal and state regulatory requirements. Mr. Fein frequently supports clients as the lead investigator and crisis manager for global cyber and data security incidents, including data breaches involving personal data, advanced persistent threats targeting intellectual property across industries, state-sponsored theft of sensitive U.S. government information, and destructive attacks.

Additionally, Mr. Fein assists clients from across industries with leading internal investigations and responding to government inquiries related to the U.S. national security. He also advises aerospace, defense, and intelligence contractors on security compliance under U.S. national security laws and regulations including, among others, the National Industrial Security Program (NISPOM), U.S. government cybersecurity regulations, and requirements related to supply chain security.

Before joining Covington, Mr. Fein served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a Military Intelligence officer and prosecutor specializing in cybercrime and national security investigations and prosecutions — to include serving as the lead trial lawyer in the prosecution of Private Chelsea (Bradley) Manning for the unlawful disclosure of classified information to Wikileaks.

Mr. Fein currently serves as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Photo of Moriah Daugherty Moriah Daugherty

Moriah Daugherty advises clients on a broad range of cybersecurity, data privacy, and national security matters, including government and internal investigations, regulatory inquiries, litigation, and compliance with state and federal privacy laws.

As part of her cybersecurity practice, Moriah specializes in assisting clients…

Moriah Daugherty advises clients on a broad range of cybersecurity, data privacy, and national security matters, including government and internal investigations, regulatory inquiries, litigation, and compliance with state and federal privacy laws.

As part of her cybersecurity practice, Moriah specializes in assisting clients in responding to cybersecurity incidents, including matters involving Advanced Persistent Threats targeting sensitive intellectual property and personally identifiable information. Moriah also assists clients in evaluating existing security controls and practices, assessing information security policies, and preparing for cyber and data security incidents.

As part of her litigation and investigations practice, Moriah leverages her government experience to advise clients on national security and law enforcement related compliance issues, internal investigations, and response to government inquiries.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Moriah spent eight years working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Justice.