China initiates legislation on personal information protection

As is learned from Chen Shutou, representative of National People's Congress (NPC) and general secretary of Guangzhou Lawyer Association, State Council has recently initiated the legislative procedure of Personal Information Protection Law.

According to the report carried on Information Times, private mobile phone number, home address, personal medical documentation as well as occupation information have all been listed as the protected items by the expert suggestion bill of Personal Information Protection Law, People's Republic of China drafted by experts in the special team organized by the Law Institute under Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Once the draft goes into effect, those who violate the other's private information could face administrative, civil or even criminal charges.

Chen further noted that the draft work of expert suggestion bill of Personal Information Protection Law was started in 2003 and finished at the beginning of 2005. Recently, relevant departments in State Council have already launched the legislative procedure of Personal Information Protection Law , which was later handed over to State Council Information Management Office for official drafting. "This year's NPC legislation plan has not included this law yet. However, before it is officially promulgated in the form of law, State Council will possibly constitute some administrative rules in this regard," added Chen.

By People's Daily Online