Shanghai is set to unveil a data usage policy to bolster urban management and the city’s digital transformation.

In line with impending data security and personal information laws, China is fostering data rating and classification methods to boost the effectiveness of data usage and safeguard data security. This is according to a number of experts at a China Cybersecurity Week forum on Monday.

Chairman of the Shanghai Big Data Center, Zhu Zongyao said Shanghai is going to publish an official data usage policy, with one section specifically targeted at data security.

The state-backed centre released a draft of the policy to determine public opinion, as data has become "a new production factor, a basic and strategic resource,” it said.

Utilising this new policy will allow Shanghai to manage public data resources from various bureaus within an integrated network, Zhu stated.

Via the confirmation of “data rights” and their usage, the forthcoming policy will help to boost Shanghai’s digital management and innovation.

In addition, a three-tier system of data management – namely general data, important data and core data – may be implemented throughout the country.

Each tier will have different usage requirements and permission conditions, according to experts outlining the law.

All policies and data usage will fall within the Data Security Law and Personal Information Protection Law, which will come into effect in November.

Moreover, so far this year, police in Shanghai have dealt with more than 998,000 cyber virus cases and solved 9,100 online crimes.

Officials told the China Cybersecurity Week forum that police will reinforce technology and management to guarantee a healthy cyberspace in Shanghai.