A provision in a September 2016-released supplement to China's Criminal Procedure Law could authorize Chinese law enforcement to access and remotely "inspect" data from anywhere in the world, according to a Lawfare blog post. "Remote network inspections are helpfully defined, in Article 29, as 'investigation, discovery, and collection of electronic data from remote computer information systems related to crime through the Internet,'” the post states. Such investigations are to be held to “strict standards,” although the laws don't elaborate on the meaning of "strict." The report argues these attitudes are a departure from U.S. procedures that limit foreign law enforcement from operating abroad without permission. "President Trump would be wise to seek specific explanation regarding the meaning of this authority and the extent to which Chinese authorities plan to exercise it," the post adds.
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