Shen Liang, vice-president of the Supreme People's Court of China, attended a seminar on Judicial Response to Legal Issues Related to the Digital Economy offered by the Forum on Rule of Law in Digital Economy on May 26.

Shen said the fast-paced development of the digital economy has brought new legal challenges and it's of great urgency to give play to the judicial functions of encouraging innovation as well as regulating and guiding by norms. He added that in recent years Chinese courts have vigorously strengthened the judicial protection of the digital economy, formulated and promulgated relevant judicial interpretations, conducted trials for various kinds of cases featuring new models and new business forms in a fair way and in accordance with the law, in an effort to provide strong guarantee for promoting the high-quality development of the digital economy.

Shen briefed the participants about the measures taken by China's courts in strengthening judicial guarantee for the digital economy. He said China's courts adhere to the equal importance of both encouragement and regulation, and keep strengthening protection of property rights and data rights. They also encourage all types of market players to achieve industrial upgrading through technological progress and innovation, so as to stimulate the dynamic development of the digital economy, he said.

China's courts have refined governance of the digital economy by regulating live streaming marketing, takeout catering services and other new digital business forms, improving the rules for adjudicating new types of unfair competition and monopolistic practices, and strengthening overview of online platforms to maintain a sound market order, according to Shen.

China's courts have resolutely cracked down on cybercrime such as opening online casinos and online fraud, safeguarded personal information security, and built a solid security barrier for the digital economy, Shen said, adding that the courts have also actively prevented and resolved network risks, strengthened the legal regulation for algorithmic technology, punished the malpractices using algorithms, and safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of users.