September 21, 2006 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- The People's Republic of China has passed a new law, aimed at curbing spam that makes it a crime to own an unregistered mail server.
Level 1 PCI DSS Certified Service Provider! DataPipe delivers the best network & support; top tier data centers; New York metro, Silicon Valley, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai. DataPipe - Personal Touch, Global Reach.
Under the new law, businesses and Internet service providers must inform the government at least 20 days before an email server is built and must make provisions for keeping all email for a minimum of 60 days. The law also makes it illegal to discuss information security via email, along with any other subject outlawed in China.
Critics say that while the law may have started as an anti-spam law, it is a freedom-limiting gesture by a government known for keeping a tight hold on its portion of the Internet.
This is not the first time the Chinese government has attempted to monitor Internet usage among its citizens and depending on how the implementation of this law turns out, it will likely make it very difficult to operate under the radar in a country that keeps a close eye on the Internet.
