In the wake of several high-profile incidents regarding data privacy and the misuse of genetic and personal information, including the case of a Chinese scientist who attracted worldwide criticism after reportedly creating the world’s first human babies whose DNA is genetically modified, the Chinese government has recently issued several top-level policy directives reaffirming its commitment to strengthening cybersecurity and the protection of personal data and human genetic information and material. Though driven by recent events, these policy directives are intended to build upon and further strengthen already existing protections enshrined in the country’s constitution and Tort Liability Law, a process that had already begun with the passage of the country’s Cybersecurity Law (CSL) and General Principles of Civil Law in recent years. Specifically, the recent policy directives place strict prohibitions on the unauthorized use of human genetic material for research purposes and create administrative penalties for the unlawful cross-border transfer of genetic information, while simultaneously streamlining the regulatory approval process for such transfers in an effort to mitigate the impact of increased regulation on international cooperation within the life sciences industry.