THE Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said Friday that officials from at least seven departments sent on-site teams to conduct a cybersecurity review of ride-hailing giant Didi Global Inc. The regulators include the CAC, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of State Security, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Natural Resources, State Taxation Administration and State Administration for Market Regulation, according to the statement. The CAC did not offer more details in its statement. China is in the process of revamping its policy toward privacy and data security. It is drafting a Personal Information Protection Law, which calls for tech platforms to impose stricter measures to ensure secure storage of user data. In September, China is set to implement its Data Security Law, which requires companies that process “critical data” to conduct risk assessments and submit reports. It also calls on organizations that process data affecting China’s national security to submit to annual reviews. The CAC launched the data-related cybersecurity investigation into Didi just two days after it raised US$4.4 billion from its New York initial public offering, citing the need to protect national security and the public interest. Regulators also ordered Didi to remove its apps in China. Didi, which currently has a market capitalization of US$60 billion, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on CAC’s new statement. It earlier said it stores all China user and road data in China. The firm Saturday pushed back against online rumors that its services would be suspended from July 20, CGTN reported. “The claims that our ride-hailing services would be suspended from July 20 were incorrect, “ Didi said. (SD-Agencies) | 