China Creates Pledge to Control U.S. Tech Companies

By Kelley Chittenden

The China Information Technology Security Evaluation Center, a Chinese Government agency, has asked U.S. tech companies to sign a pledge committing to policies such as withholding from harming China’s national security and storing Chinese user data within China’s borders. The document also asks that the tech companies pledge they will ensure their products are “secure and controllable,” which could potentially require third-party access to systems and sharing of encryption keys or source code. Although U.S. tech companies are reluctant to sign, many also want to take advantage of massive business opportunities in China, home to the world’s biggest Internet market. China’s influence over the U.S. tech industry will take form in the U.S.-China Internet Industry Forum held in Seattle next week.