China scales back IT disclosure demands

CHINA HAS FINALLY woken up to the fact that companies are uncomfortable having to tell it how their technology works.

According to the AP, Beijing has averted a clash with Washington by scaling back a demand for foreign suppliers of computer security technology to disclose how their products work.

Companies flogging security hardware and software to the Chinese government will have to disclose to Beijing how their products work, but not companies selling products and services to Chinese enterprises and consumers.

Suppliers of technology that keep email and computer networks secure were a little concerned that they were being asked to disclose business secrets which might then be stolen by the Chinese. µ