Draft personality rights section of civil code gets 3rd reading at China's top legislature

A new draft of the personality rights section of the civil code was submitted Thursday to the ongoing bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee for a third reading.

[File Photo: IC]

In a chapter on privacy and personal information protection, the draft revised the definition of personal information by including a person's email address and whereabouts, in addition to name, birth date, address, ID card and telephone numbers, among others.

In a move to better protect privacy rights, the draft proposed in a new clause banning any organization or individual from searching, entering, spying on and filming others' hotel rooms or other private spaces, unless otherwise prescribed by law or with the rights holder's consent.

The new draft has also gone a step further in regulating scientific studies related to human genes or embryos by banning such activities from "harming public interests."

Those who conduct medical or scientific studies related to human genes or embryos shall abide by laws, administrative rules and relevant regulations, the new draft said, adding that people's health shall not be harmed, ethical and moral standards shall not be violated and public interests shall not be harmed.

The clause on human gene and embryo-related studies was first included in a draft of the personality rights section submitted to the legislature's session in April, marking the first time for China to make a fundamental regulation concerning such issues in civil legislation.

Chinese lawmakers will deliberate the new draft personality rights section and a new draft section on torts of the civil code in panel discussions during the ongoing legislative session, which will run from Thursday to Monday.