China invites foreign firms to cybersecurity bill proceedings

China is inviting foreign tech companies to take part in deliberations over cybersecurity rules, according to The Wall Street Journal — a marked shift in policy.

{mosads}China is under fire from international companies worried that the laws, which are ostensibly designed to prevent cyber espionage, might shut them out of the Chinese market. 

Rules currently under consideration would mandate that companies hold data in Chinese servers — cutting off a global market for cloud storage — and explain in depth how products work.  

The Wall Street Journal reported that China’s Technical Committee 260, in charge of the rule, has invited outside companies to join deliberations. Cisco and Microsoft confirmed to the Journal that they had accepted invitations.

It is unclear how active a role foreign companies will be granted during the proceedings.