Top court releases landmark data-related cases to guide adjudication

China's top court released its first-ever set of landmark cases concerning data rights protection on Thursday, in an effort to unify judicial standards by providing judges with clear guidance on issues of data ownership, utilization and personal information protection.

The Supreme People's Court emphasized in a statement that in the digital era, data forms the backbone of networking and intelligence, permeating various aspects of production, consumption and social service management, as well as transforming lifestyles and modes of social governance.

It revealed that there has been a noticeable increase in the number of data-related cases handled by courts nationwide, specifying that the number of such cases concluded in 2024 was double that of 2021.

The six notable cases disclosed on Thursday cover areas such as unfair competition, infringement, and personal information protection. For instance, with the widespread use of mobile applications, the collection of personal information by operators has become common, leading to a rise in related disputes. One of the highlighted cases involved such an issue, and was ultimately adjudicated as an infringement of personal information rights.

The top court underscored the need to improve the quality of handling data-related cases, calling on courts nationwide to create a sound rule-of-law environment where people enjoy the benefits of digital economic development while promoting the compliant and efficient flow of data, thereby enhancing new drivers of economic growth.