(Bloomberg) -- China’s internet regulator is reaching out to foreign firms, including Walmart Inc. and PayPal Inc., to discuss ways to navigate Beijing’s new data-security rules, an effort to reassure multinationals worried about their ability to operate in the world’s No. 2 economy under the latest regulations.

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Officials from the Cyberspace Administration of China met with executives from dozens of international firms to ease their concerns about the new data regime ahead of a final November deadline for implementation, people familiar with the matter said. Regulators took questions, offered guidance on how to adhere to the rules and acknowledged the challenges of clinching approvals for overseas transfers of sensitive information, said the people, asking not to be identified talking about a private meeting. They discussed creating a fast-approval mechanism for routine transfers, as well as a curated “white-list” for data categories or even specific companies, one of the people said.

The new data laws have sparked widespread anxiety at foreign firms and triggered drastic changes in a handful of cases. The law firm Dentons split off its Chinese operations this month, while Morgan Stanley shifted more than 200 technology developers — about a third of its tech cohort — out of mainland China. Beijing’s new rules give President Xi Jinping’s administration the power to shut down or fine companies that leak or mishandle sensitive information. Penalties include fines and suspensions.

Every company in every industry with China operations has to figure out how to navigate the data laws because the penalties for non-compliance can be so severe, said Carolyn Bigg, head of DLA Piper’s data privacy and cybersecurity teams in Asia.