China anti-terror law may muzzle terror reporting

The draft anti-terrorism law has already attracted concern in Western capitals as it could require technology firms to install “backdoors” in products or to hand over sensitive information such as encryption keys to the government. The law is currently having another reading at the latest session of the standing committee for China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress. 

The Official People’s Daily said the law’s new draft includes a provision that media and social media cannot report on details of terror activities that might lead to imitation, nor show scenes that are “cruel and inhuman”. 

No details of hostages, how authorities have responded to terror incidents or personal details of those on the scene are allowed to be reported without approval by counter-terrorism authorities, the report added.  Chinese state-run media already operates under strict controls when it comes to reporting on terrorism, and the government brooks no challenge to its official accounts of attacks or other incidents. It is not clear if the technology requirements remain in the new draft or how the final law could differ from the drafts.