Chinese business database Qichacha passes Beijing’s security test for resuming overseas operations

BEIJING – Chinese business database Qichacha said Friday it has passed a data export security assessment, allowing the company to resume overseas operations.

The news signals a relaxation of increasingly strict Chinese government controls on data sharing due to national security concerns.

Earlier this year, Reuters reported, citing sources, that Qichacha and similar databases had closed off access to offshore users for months.

Qichacha said in a press release on Friday that it is the first company to pass the Cyberspace Administration of China’s data export security assessment for a platform that researches corporate creditworthiness data.

The administration did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

In October, the country’s cybersecurity regulator issued draft rules that eased restrictions on sending data outside mainland China – an issue that had become a major challenge for foreign companies in the country.