China mulls law amendment to better protect data rights

BEIJING -- Chinese lawmakers are deliberating a draft revision to the Anti-Unfair Competition Law to toughen regulatory measures against data rights violations and malicious transactions.

The draft was submitted Tuesday to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the national legislature, for its second reading.

The draft specifies various forms of malicious transactions, while also introducing provisions for the establishment of a national fair competition review system.

To strengthen regulation against unfair competition on platforms, the draft prohibits operators from forcing or indirectly pressuring vendors to sell products below cost.

It also stipulates that platform operators must clearly outline fair competition rules within their platform service agreements and transaction regulations.

Promulgated in 1993, the Anti-Unfair Competition Law aims to promote the healthy development of the socialist market economy, encourage and protect fair competition, curb unfair competition practices, and safeguard the legal rights and interests of operators and consumers.