Beijing Internet Court vows to strengthen data protection

Beijing Internet Court has pledged to focus more on handling cases involving emerging businesses and technologies, with great effort to draw regulations in these areas, in a move to help foster new quality productive forces.

"We'll strengthen the protection of data-related rights to ensure data security and promote data flow by improving relevant rules. We've also decided to pay high attention to solving disputes of online games, livestreaming and smart cars," Jiang Ying, president of the court told a news conference on Monday.

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, she said that the court's research on the technology, such as how to identify the copyrights of AI-generated works and how to protect personal information while applying AI-powered products, will be further increased.

"Our aim is to maintain the order of cyberspace and promote the healthy growth of online platforms by rule of law," she added.

Data released on Monday showed that from Sept 9, 2018, when the court was opened, to June 30 this year, it heard 219,695 cases, of which, more than 62 percent concentrated on online copyrights.

Among the cases, the number of those on emerging businesses, including information technologies, AI and digital tourism, has been rising, which brought the trials a big challenge, Jiang said.

While encouraging the development of the new industries by improving the quality of relevant case hearings, she noted that the court has also optimized the business environment of digital economy by issuing guidelines and increasing collaboration with other authorities, such as the city's intellectual property administration and China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

In addition, more technologies have been applied into the court work, with some judges participating in the formulation of the internet-related legal documents, such as the Data Security Law and the Personal Information Protection Law, she added.