China approved more than 90 per cent of overseas data transfers in 2024: top regulator

Minority blocked either unnecessary or did not meet security standards, says first update from internet watchdog since rules were eased

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China has eased cross-border data flows to boost global exchanges and the sharing of capital, information, technology, talent, goods and other resources. Photo: Shutterstock

Holly Chik

Published: 2:00pm, 2 Jan 2025

China approved more than 90 per cent of data exports in 2024, the country’s top internet regulator said.

The less than 10 per cent blocked were either deemed as unnecessary or did not meet security standards, according to the update from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).

“Most projects failed the assessment primarily because the data processors did not obtain the necessary consent from individuals as required by law, except for a few that did not pass due to insufficient necessity for important data exports or security risks,” Wang Qi, deputy director of the CAC’s network data management bureau, said on Tuesday.

This is the first CAC report since it eased rules on cross-border data flows in March, introducing security review exemptions for some information exports.

Businesses also no longer have to submit information on cross-border e-commerce, shipping, payments or visa processing for official security checks, a step reported to have eased operational concerns among foreign companies in China.

The eased rules also apply to data related to activities including opening bank accounts and booking flights or hotels.