Beijing judges research protections for consumers' data in digital age

Beijing judges have called for internet platforms to continuously optimize their management systems of users' information, in an effort to strengthen personal data protection.

The Beijing No 4 Intermediate People's Court announced on Thursday that it has concluded 66 civil appeals cases involving personal information over the past three years, with the number continuing to rise.

"This figure and trend has reflected that the public's awareness of protecting personal data is growing, along with an increasing emphasis on the rule of law," Wang Yuntao, vice-president of the court, said. He revealed that in these cases, the defendants were primarily internet platforms.

He encouraged users to first attempt to resolve the issue by negotiating with the online platform or filing a complaint with the relevant regulatory authorities when finding that their personal information has been compromised.

"If necessary, they should pursue legal action," he said, suggesting that they remain rational and avoid illegally defending their rights by disclosing others' personal information or inciting cyberbullying online.

Considering that emerging technologies make personal data infringement difficult to discover and bring challenges to adjudication, Zhang Qinyuan, chief judge of the court's case filing division, said that she and her colleagues have been increasing research on relevant legal issues, and trying their best to actively respond public concerns in this digital age.

Additionally, according to Wang, the court has vowed to explore mechanisms for involving technical experts to assist in investigations, striving to overcome the challenge of collecting and presenting evidence in this internet era.