Encryption Law by Country
Where strong encryption is a right, restricted, or compelled. National law and policy, mirrored per country.
Source: Global Partners Digital, World Map of Encryption, updated 2026-07-02. Full data at www.gp-digital.org/world-map-of-encryption
Encryption Law by Country (196)
General right to encryption
No known legislation or policies.
Mandatory minimum or maximum encryption strength
No known legislation or policies.
Licensing/registration requirements
State Council Order No. 273 “Regulation of Commercial Encryption Codes” provides that manufacturers must obtain approval from the National Commission on Encryption Code Regulations/ State Cryptography Administration for the type and model (including key length) of their encryption products. A copy of the Order can be found here .
Import/export controls
State Council Order No. 273 “Regulation of Commercial Encryption Codes” provides that the import and export of encryption products requires a license by the National Commission on Encryption Code Regulations/ State Cryptography Administration. A copy of the Order can be found here .
Other restrictions
State Council Order No. 273 “Regulation of Commercial Encryption Codes” provides that organisations and individuals may not distribute encryption products produced abroad. People may only use encryption products approved by the National Commission on Encryption Code Regulations, and they may not use commercial encryption products developed by themselves or produced abroad. For this use, they must have approval by the National Commission on Encryption Code Regulations. Only foreign diplomatic missions and consulates are exempted from this approval. A copy of the Order can be found here .
Obligations on individuals to assist authorities
No known legislation or policies.
Obligations on providers to assist authorities
Under the Counter-Terrorism Law, technology firms are required to help decrypt information.
Assessment Text Area
The law in China imposes a range of restrictions on the manufacturing, import, export and use of encryption: It requires manufacturers must obtain approval for the type and model (including key length) of their encryption products, requires a license for the import and export of encryption products. This means organisations and individuals may not distribute encryption products produced abroad as only products that have received government authorised may be used. It also imposes obligations on technology firms, who are broadly required to help decrypt information.
Murphy's Law