China’s ‘wild era’ of Internet may be ending as new personal data protection law seeks to curb Big Tech’s control over user data

The draft version of the new law significantly increases penalties for companies responsible for data breaches, proposing fines of up to US$7.6mil. Given the huge size of the Chinese big data market, some believe the penalties under the new law are light and that it has some shortcomings. — SCMP

China’s new data privacy laws could see the beginning of the end of the country’s “wild era” of internet development where platforms have been free to collect and use citizens’ personal information.

Legal experts welcomed the draft of the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL), despite its shortcomings, saying the move is timely and will help push back against big tech’s control over personal data.