Um, I says pardon? Who will blink first?
From MSNBC (thx Kilroy):
The Chinese government is stirring trade tensions with Washington with a plan to require foreign computer security technology to be submitted for government approval, in a move that might require suppliers to disclose business secrets.
Rules due to take effect May 1 require official certification of technology widely used to keep e-mail and company data networks secure. Beijing has yet to say how many secrets companies must disclose about such sensitive matters as how data-encryption systems work. But Washington complains the requirement might hinder imports in a market dominated by U.S. companies, and is pressing Beijing to scrap it.
Now, the question I have is this a high level understanding of the software or straight up source code?
The agency that will enforce the rules, the China Certification and Accreditation Administration, said in a written statement they are meant to protect national security and “advance industry development.” But it did not respond to questions about what information companies must disclose and how foreign technology will be judged.
Hmmm, I would hazard a guess they want the nitty gritty. But, these trade barriers smack more of brinksmanship than a concerted attempt to gain a competitive edge. My curiousity will be in who divulges their code, et cetera, to the Chinese government in order to make a buck.
