China brought into force on Monday new trade secret regulations that explicitly extend legal protection to data and algorithms for the first time, as the country moves to strengthen safeguards for digital assets amid intensifying competition in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.

China brought new trade secret regulations into force on Monday that explicitly extend legal protection to data and algorithms for the first time.

Effective Monday, the Regulations on Trade Secret Protection mark the first time Chinese law protects such digital assets as proprietary secrets, according to state broadcaster…