(ECNS) -- Authorities in courts, procuratorates and public security bureaus are empowered to retrieve electronic data from individuals and organizations implicated in criminal cases, according to a new regulation jointly issued by the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security.
Information shared on China's popular social networking platform WeChat Moments, as well as microblogs on Twitter-like Weibo, will for the first time be collected and reviewed as evidence during criminal proceedings if deemed necessary by law enforcement agencies.
According to the new rules, information posted or stored on online platforms including Web pages, blogs, microblogs, WeChat Moments, BBS and online disks, as well as cell phone messages, e-mails, information communicated via instant messaging tools and discussion groups, all fall into the category of electronic data.
This data also covers user registration and identification information, records of electronic transactions, communication records and login logs, together with their electronic files such as documents, graphics, audio-visual files, digital certificates and computer programs.
Digital records of testimony given by a witness, statements by victims, and confessions and pleas by criminal suspects or defendants, are not regarded as electronic data.
Law enforcement officials are also allowed to seize electronic data storage devices to prevent possible revision or deletion.
Hong Daode, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law, said people need not worry too much as postings on WeChat Moments can only be collected as evidence due to criminal behavior.
