Critics of the law, including the US Department of State, argue that it may not effectively target terrorism and could restrict citizens' freedoms of expression and association. The law also raises issues for companies such as Apple who do not hold encryption keys on individual devices.
Not intended to infringe IP rights
China defended the law as necessary and in line with international precedents. Li Shouwei, from the legislative affairs commission of the NPC Standing Committee, assured the press that the new law will not affect companies’ normal business nor ‘install backdoors to infringe intellectual property rights.’
The law will go into effect on 1 January 2016. Sources: The Diplomat; Jurist
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