China has passed a highly controversial counter-terrorism law on Sunday. The new law requires firms to help decrypt user information, but they will not install security 'backdoors' as previously discussed.

Chinese officials have stated that the country faces a growing threat from both militants and separatists, most especially in the Western region of Xinjiang. 

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The new counter-terrorism law has attracted concern from Western countries because of the cyber provisions. U.S. President Barack Obama has reportedly raised the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

A provision in the draft law that would require companies to keep their servers and user data within China was removed from the final law before it was passed. However, companies will still have to provide help regarding sensitive encryption information if needed by China's law enforcement agencies.

Li Shouwie, the deputy head of the parliament's criminal law division, told reporters that "The rule accords with the actual work needed in fighting terrorism and is basically the same law that other countries in the world have."

"This will not affect the normal operations that tech companies have and they will have nothing to fear in regards to losing their intellectual property rights," Li added.

The new law restricts the right of the media to report on details of terror attacks - particularly details of terror activities that might lead to imitation - or show scenes that are "cruel and inhuman".  

Tagscounter-terrorism, China laws, China counter-terrorism law