China's draft cybersecurity law gets 3rd reading

BEIJING -- China's draft cybersecurity law was submitted to legislators for its third reading at the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which began Monday.

The draft allows police and other law enforcers to take measures, including the freezing of assets, against overseas individuals or organizations that "attack, intrude, interfere with or sabotage the nation's key information infrastructure."

It suggests better protective measures for important industries including public communications and information service, energy, transportation, finance and e-government service.

In regard to online fraud, the draft explicitly makes the activity illegal.

The draft criminalizes the setting up of websites that facilitate online fraud.

The manufacturing and selling of illegal or "controlled products" online has also been prohibited, according to the draft, which also includes clauses to support the training and identification of cybersecurity personnel and measures to protect minors.

The draft had its first reading during a bimonthly session of the top legislature in June last year.