China issues mandatory standard to curb data leak risks in second-hand electronics

BEIJING, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- China has released a mandatory national standard regarding information erasure for electronic products to reduce data leak risks in the circulation of second-hand devices, authorities said on Saturday.

According to the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, this standard aims to standardize technical methods for erasing data from electronic products and guide recycling operators to improve management and technical measures, thereby preventing data leaks in the second-hand market.

The standard will come into force on Jan. 1, 2027.

Under the standard, manufacturers are required to provide built-in data erasure functions. If such functions cannot be developed, manufacturers must offer external erasure tools, inform users of available third-party tools, or provide free data erasure services.

Recycling operators must proactively remind users to erase their data before collection and are prohibited from accessing or retaining user data without consent.

They are also required to use compliant tools to erase user data, verify the effectiveness of erasure before resale, and ensure that devices containing uncleared data are not resold or exported.

Recyclers must keep records of erasure operations and verification results for at least three years.  ■