China amends law to tackle data fraud

Top legislative body in China has approved changes to its statistics law to combat data fraud. The move addresses growing concerns over the reliability of economic figures in the world’s second-largest economy. Amended regulations aim to prevent statistical manipulation and penalise officials involved in falsifying economic reports.

Authorities have acknowledged persistent problems with statistical fraud, which has led to public mistrust in economic data. The issue has become a major focus for lawmakers, as many believe it harms the accuracy of important economic indicators.

External analysts have long questioned the authenticity of Chinese data, particularly as the country grapples with an economic slowdown. The new law is part of ongoing efforts to restore confidence by cracking down on fraudulent reporting.

Government in China has vowed to investigate and penalise officials involved in data manipulation, seeking to improve transparency and the overall quality of economic statistics.