Guizhou regulates big data development

Lawmakers in southwest China's Guizhou Province have passed the country's first local law on big data, promising support for the industry's development.

Passed on Friday at a meeting of the provincial people's congress, the draft stipulates that big data providers should avoid harming state interests and protect the privacy of individuals and businesses.

In case of illegal collection and sale of private or corporate data, offenders will now be fined 10,000 to 100,000 yuan (1,519 to 15,190 U.S. dollars), and all their illegitimate incomes will be confiscated.

The draft encourages provincial, city and county governments in Guizhou to set up special funds to support big data research.

Meanwhile, financial institutions in the province are encouraged to take advantage of big data application to launch innovative financial products and improve services.

The regulations also grant preferential taxation policies for big data businesses.

Universities, research organizations and businesses are encouraged to work together on research pertaining to big data development and application, while schools are encouraged to offer relevant courses.

Guizhou's government announced plans in March 2014 to foster the big data industry, and subsequently came up with a public data bank known as "Guizhou on the Cloud." The system stores public service data and can be freely accessed by all.

"The new law will provide strong legal support for the healthy development of big data and subsequently for the social and economic growth of underdeveloped Guizhou Province," said Liu Yimin, secretary-general of the standing committee of the provincial people's congress.

The law will take effect on March 1.

In July last year, the State Council released guidelines to strengthen services and supervision on market entities through big data.

China's 13th five-year plan (2016-2020) also includes a national big data strategy and advances the sharing of data. Endi