The evidence recorded on the blockchain can now be used in proceedings in Chinese courts. This was reported today by the Supreme People's Court of China. Along with several other amendments to the system of legal proceedings, the new rules are coming into effect immediately.
From now on, Internet courts in China will have to consider blockchain as a legitimate method of storing and authenticating digital evidence.
"Internet courts shall recognize digital data that are submitted as evidence if relevant parties collected and stored these data via blockchain with digital signatures, reliable timestamps and hash value verification or via a digital deposition platform, and can prove the authenticity of such technology used", – states the Supreme People's Court of China.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
- Requests for blockchain recognition as a legitimate way of storing evidence began to emerge last year when the first Internet court in Hangzhou was opened.
- Internet court conducts proceedings on Internet-related issues, most often involving digital data. In June, Hangzhou Internet Court found evidence on a detainee in the course of a copyright infringement process.
- The PRC government plans to create two more Internet courts in Beijing and Guangzhou.