{"id":6979,"date":"2021-02-01T09:04:59","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T09:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/?p=6979"},"modified":"2025-04-23T09:56:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T09:56:29","slug":"understanding-cybersecurity-and-data-protection-in-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/understanding-cybersecurity-and-data-protection-in-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding China’s cybersecurity and data protection risks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before a UK company sets up in China, it\u2019s key to weigh up cybersecurity risks: From the effect of the Great Firewall of China to data collection, early research and expert advice are both vital<\/h2>\n
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China has established itself as a global superpower, growing its GDP to become the second-largest economy in the world behind the US. Its influence on the global stage is expected to expand even further, with a recent McKinsey Global Institute report finding that between $22 trillion to $37 trillion could be at stake in the global economy by 2040 depending on China\u2019s involvement.<\/p>\n

Last year saw UK exports to the region worth \u00a330.7 billion. Furthermore, China represented 4.4% of all UK exports and its sixth-largest export market (a sharp rise from being the 26th biggest in 1999). It\u2019s a territory with significant potential for UK businesses, particularly those in the tech sector where China is hungry to embrace cutting-edge innovation.<\/p>\n

Before a UK tech company sets up in China or enters into a partnership with a Chinese business, it\u2019s vital to weigh up the risks and challenges from a data protection and cybersecurity perspective. For tech companies especially, where a strong digital foundation is required, there are not only complex rules and regulations to get to grips with, but also risks around control of your sensitive data and commercial information.<\/p>\n

There are not only complex rules and regulations to get to grips with, but also risks around control of your sensitive data and commercial information<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Plus, if you\u2019re aiming to establish an IT presence in the region, you could find yourself behind China\u2019s Great Firewall (GFW). The GFW heavily regulates and censors the internet, blocks access to many ubiquitous Western websites like Google, Facebook and Twitter, and slows down cross-border internet traffic. Foreign companies are required to adapt to these regulations if they want to do business in China.<\/p>\n