China's MIIT Solicits Comments on Draft Internet Rules

On January 14, 2011, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (“MIIT”) unveiled draft rules to regulate competition between providers of internet information services and to protect users’ rights and online personal data. The draft rules, entitled “Provisional Regulations for Maintaining the Social Order of the Internet Information Service Market”, appear to have been prompted by a recent dispute between two top Chinese Internet companies, Tencent and Qihoo. MIIT will accept comments on the draft rules until February 14, 2011.