The chief technology officer of Tencent-backed neo-bank WeBank has called for exploring the use of blockchain technology to develop new models for implementing the right to data portability.
Speaking on 26 October at the 7th Wanxiang Blockchain Global Summit held in Shanghai, Henry Ma Zhitao (马智涛) proposed the use of blockchain technology and Distributed Data Transfer Protcol (DDTP) as a method for achieving right to data portability.
“This method of DDTP can achieve full guidance by the individual, and also abides by the concept of distribution, without requiring participating institutions to have stipulations in advance, ” said Ma.
“It has no need to depend on a unified, central organisation’s push, and can achieve cross-institutional, cross-scenario, cross-status layer-based cooperation.”
WeBank has taken the lead in establishing a DDTP chain alliance within China.
China’s “Personal Information Protection Law” (个人信息保护法) which is scheduled to officially come into effect at the start of November, contains provisions on the right to portability of personal information, stipulating that “data entities have the right to obtain copies of their personal information from data controllers, as well as require that data controllers directly transfer their personal information to other formats.”
Ma said that the establishment of the right to data portability in China embodies its legislative attitude towards ensuring that personal data rights belong to individuals, and conferring individuals with the right to personal information that circulates between companies.
“How to use new technology to explore new models for persona the right to portability of personal information is the critical next step,” said Ma.
