Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, takes a question at a press briefing in Beijing, China, on Jan 16, 2024. (PHOTO / FOREIGN MINISTRY, CHINA)

BEIJING - China firmly rejects the US false accusation that China purchases American personal and sensitive data for malicious activities, and urges the United States to work with others to formulate universal data security rules to enable orderly and free data flows around the world, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday.

It is reported that US President Joe Biden will sign an executive order designed to prevent foreign entities from giving to troves of American personal data amid worries that it could be exploited for commercial and military advantage.

Noting that China has put forward the Global Initiative on Data Security, Mao Ning said that if the United States truly cares about data security, it can publicly endorse this initiative or make similar commitments

Mao told a daily press briefing that the United States overstretches the concept of national security, falsely accuses China of purchasing American's personal and sensitive data for malicious activities, and prevents the transfer of data to so-called "countries of concern" including China.

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"These are discriminatory practices clearly targeted at certain countries, and China firmly rejects these measures," Mao said.

"The Chinese government takes data privacy and security very seriously. We have never asked and will never ask any company or individual to collect or provide data, information or intelligence located abroad against local laws," she said.

Noting that China has put forward the Global Initiative on Data Security, Mao said that if the United States truly cares about data security, it can publicly endorse this initiative or make similar commitments.

"We urge the United States to stop smearing and discrediting China, effectively safeguard a fair, open and non-discriminatory business environment, and work with others to formulate universal data security rules to enable orderly and free data flows around the world," said Mao.