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China amends state secrets law to require companies to inform on customers

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Chinese government on Thursday revised its often-criticized state secrets law to require Internet and telecommunications companies to inform on customers who share state secrets. This new provision may provide a disincentive to many service providers from entering China, particularly when considered along with China's Internet filtering laws. The new law also narrows the definition of state secrets. As approved by parliament, the phrase state secrets now means, "information concerning state security and interests and, if leaked, would damage state security and interests in the areas of politics, economy and national defense." The amended state secrets law will take effect in October. China's state secrets law has frequently been criticized for the breadth of action which falls under the doctrine. In November 2009, rights activist Huang Qi was sentenced to three years in prison for violating the state secrets law, when he discussed how some schools collapsed after the Sichuan province earthquake in 2008 because of shoddy construction. China began a review of its state secrets law last June, after concerns were raised regarding Internet filtering software on computers sold in that country.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 29, 2010 (boomark / email).