The Chinese government is seeking for feedback on draft guidance for standardizing data security in blockchain and other rising technologies. In a recently published document, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology argued that data has become a national basic strategic resource and innovative component in social production.

The rise of big data and increasing development of China’s telecommunications and internet sectors is beneficial to the country’s digital economy. Hence, the government and developers must understand the immense importance of tackling rising, complex and severe security risks and challenges involved.

The ministry therefore calls for accelerating decoration of standardized data security assurance systems. It is seeking for feedback on its draft guidance for securing a rational and orderly flow of network data.

In the document, the ministry’s key areas of focus are on the importance of development of security standards in emerging technologies such as blockchain, 5G, cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI).

For blockchain in particular, the ministry highlights 3 key dimensions for security development. These include, application services, system design, and basic components like network communication and cryptography. Standardization for the blockchain industry would also focus on data privacy, secure digital access storage, and protecting network interactions.

The ministry also included, in its draft standardization guide, other elements which focus on blockchain. They include, research on smart contracts and blockchain security in financial transactions, security in the architecture of Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain-powered data communication, and utilizing blockchain in the analysis of data exchange technology for IoT.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has played a vital role in calls for development of standards for the country’s blockchain sector. Under its directives, the Center for Information and Industry Development has been publishing digital currency rating reports since 2018.

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