China Strengthens Internet Rules

In the wake of allegations by various nations pointing out China as the source of numerous intrusions into the websites and databases operated by governmental organizations by hackers operating from its soil, China has decided to come down heavily on the hackers by toughening the penalties for those caught in the act.

According to the reports available with the Chinese state media as on Monday, China’s Supreme Court and the prosecutor’s office are actively involved in the process. According to the new rules which are going to come into effect from September 1, people who are involved in the purchase, sale or cover up of any illegally procured data or control of network knowingly will face criminal charges and penalties said the statement available with Xinhua, the official news agency.

It also added that these activities are becoming increasing unrestrained in the recent times and it is also giving rise to online platforms for transactions. By imposing penalty on these violations, the profits from hacking can be cut down and thereby discouraging the people involved in these illegal activities.

China is being blamed by the United States for some time now saying that most of the hacking attacks targeting human rights organizations and other U.S companies are originating from China. But according to China, they themselves are one of the biggest victims of hacking attacks and other related crimes.

According to the news agency, hacking and related crimes which endanger the information network security will pose a threat to the national security and public interests in addition to a threat to network security and these new rules are aimed at putting a stop to these crimes.

Xinhua News Agency also said that around 42,000 Chinese websites were distorted by hackers in 2009 alone. The data available with the Ministry of Public Security indicate that the number of viruses in the internet has increased by 80 percent compared to the previous year and this trend has been there since the past 5 years. It also estimates that the hackers have control over at least 8 out of every 10 computers in the country.

Companies such as Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) and numerous financial institutions have been targeted by unknown hackers in the past six months. The hackers origin is alleged to be from China.

Pentagon has warned in the last week’s annual report to the congress that the hacking attacks from china can be used to serve military purposes rather than for just accessing data in the near future. The Chinese government officials have denied that they have any role in these hacking attacks.