> Yes, the government can get warrants for pen registers, issue NSLs and the like but there's still a process for that.
> This simply isn't true for the Chinese government and Chinese companies.
Huh? Do you think the Chinese intelligence services don't have to go through processes and approvals before grabbing user data? It's exactly the same thing - sure it's a secret court that rubber-stamps every request put in front of it, but that's no different from how NSLs work.
There is no requirement under the Chinese National Intelligence Law for intelligence agencies to go through courts for access. There is no due process for those affected. That law also compels companies and citizens to actively assist intelligence agencies.
> There is no requirement under the Chinese National Intelligence Law for intelligence agencies to go through courts for access.
Maybe our translations don't call it a court, but there will be processes. In practice, what does the FISA "court" guarantee that the Chinese intelligence service bureaucracy does not?
> There is no due process for those affected.
Much the same as the US, right? The courts have ruled that people don't have standing to challenge the NSA's large-scale surveillance programmes, the warrants are granted by secret courts, the usual rights of appeal don't extend to those courts.
> That law also compels companies and citizens to actively assist intelligence agencies.
Which is much the same as the National Security Letter system, no?
> This simply isn't true for the Chinese government and Chinese companies.
Huh? Do you think the Chinese intelligence services don't have to go through processes and approvals before grabbing user data? It's exactly the same thing - sure it's a secret court that rubber-stamps every request put in front of it, but that's no different from how NSLs work.