MIIT Issues Regulation on Handset Security
Beijing Morning Post, 6/02/12
On June 1, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the Memorandum on Strengthening Mobile Intelligent Terminal Network Access Management, on which it is seeking feedback from the public. The review and feedback period will last until June 30, 2012.
The MIIT plans to tighten network access management for "mobile intelligent terminals" with measures that will include forbidding manufacturers from shipping smartphones pre-installed or otherwise bundled with five categories of applications:
1) Applications containing malicious code;
2) Applications that collect or alter user data without clearly notifying and requiring approval from users;
3) Applications that make use of terminals' communication functionality, incurring data charges or other subscription charges, or leaking user data, without clearly notifying and requiring approval from users;
4) Applications containing content illegal under the Telecommunications Regulations of the People's Republic of China, the Administrative Measures for Internet Information Services, or other laws and regulations;
5) Applications otherwise infringing upon users' personal data security and other legal interests, or otherwise detrimental to network and data security.
Keywords: handset regulation security wireless MIIT pre-installed smartphone