Advertisement
China’s internet watchdog launches cybersecurity investigation into country’s largest academic research database CNKI
- The Cyberspace Administration of China started its investigation on the grounds that CNKI holds a large amount of data on national defence, telecoms and finance
- The privately-owned firm also has ‘sensitive information’ related to the country’s major projects and development of core technologies
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
China’s internet watchdog has launched a cybersecurity investigation into the country’s largest online academic research database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), intensifying Beijing’s scrutiny of the firm more than a month after it was put under an antitrust inquiry.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) initiated its investigation on the grounds that the privately-owned CNKI holds a large amount of personal information and important data covering areas that include national defence, telecommunications and finance, according to a statement from the agency on Friday.
CNKI also has “sensitive information” related to the country’s major projects, significant technological achievements and development of core technologies, the CAC said. It did not provide additional details.
Founded in 1999 by China’s elite Tsinghua University and its subsidiaries, CNKI has more than 90 per cent of the published academic journals in mainland China in its archives, and about 40 per cent of materials available for subscription are exclusive to the platform, according to its website.
CNKI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Advertisement