Issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China on September 7, 2017
Effective: October 8, 2017
Table of Contents
Chapter I — Obligations of Platforms
Article 1 — These Provisions are formulated in accordance with the Cybersecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Measures on the Administration of Internet Information Services, and other laws and regulations, for the purpose of regulating Internet group information services, safeguarding national security and the public interest, protecting the lawful rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and other organizations, and promoting the healthy and orderly development of Internet group information services.
Article 2 — These Provisions apply to the provision of Internet group information services within the territory of the People’s Republic of China. The term “Internet group information services” as used in these Provisions refers to services that provide Internet users with the function of establishing and using online group spaces for information exchange, including instant messaging tools such as WeChat groups, QQ groups, Weibo groups, Tieba groups, and Momo groups.
Article 3 — Internet group information service providers shall assume the main responsibility for content security management, shall be equipped with professionals appropriate to the scale of their services and shall possess the corresponding technical capacity. They shall establish and improve management systems in various areas including user registration, information review, emergency response, and security protection.
Article 4 — Internet group information service providers shall implement a real-name identity authentication system for users. They shall, in accordance with the principles of background real-name and front-stage voluntary disclosure, authenticate the identity information of registered users based on real-name information such as resident identity cards, and shall not provide information publishing services to users who have not undergone real-name identity authentication.
Article 5 — Internet group information service providers shall, in accordance with law, record and preserve information such as the content and logs of information published by users in groups, and the preservation period shall be no less than 6 months. They shall cooperate with relevant departments in supervision and inspection in accordance with law and provide necessary technical, data, and other support and assistance.
Article 6 — Internet group information service providers shall set up convenient channels for complaints and reports, promptly accept and handle complaints and reports from the public, and provide necessary information and technical support.
Chapter II — Obligations of Users
Article 7 — The founders and managers of Internet groups shall fulfill the responsibility for group management, regulate group network behavior and information publication in accordance with laws and regulations, user agreements, and platform conventions, and build a civilized and orderly online group space.
Article 8 — The founders of Internet groups shall verify the identity of members entering the group, regulate the group name, regulate the scale of the group and the method of grouping, and shall not set up groups that are closely related to the names of illegal organizations, shall not use group accounts to conduct illegal activities, and shall not conduct illegal fund-raising and other activities.
Article 9 — The founders and managers of Internet groups shall regulate the publication of information by group members. Where group members disseminate information and content prohibited by laws and regulations, they shall take measures such as warnings, removal, and removal from the group, preserve relevant records, and report to the relevant competent authority.
Article 10 — Internet group members shall abide by laws and regulations, practice socialist core values, and safeguard national interests and the public interest. When participating in group information exchanges, they shall comply with laws and regulations, interact in a civilized manner, and express themselves rationally.
Article 11 — Internet group members shall not use Internet groups to engage in acts prohibited by laws and regulations, including: disseminating information and content prohibited by laws and regulations; infringing upon the lawful rights and interests of others; engaging in illegal fund-raising, illegal marketing, and other activities; using group accounts to carry out illegal and criminal activities; and other acts prohibited by laws and regulations.
Chapter III — Supervision and Administration
Article 12 — Cyberspace administrations at all levels shall establish a daily supervision and inspection mechanism, strengthen guidance and law enforcement for Internet group information service providers, and urge Internet group information service providers to fulfill their primary responsibilities.
Article 13 — Where Internet group information service providers violate these Provisions, the cyberspace administrations shall, in accordance with law, take measures such as interviews, public disclosure of criticism, ordering rectification, and suspension of relevant business; where a violation of relevant laws and regulations is constituted, administrative penalties shall be imposed in accordance with law. Where a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued.
Chapter IV — Supplementary Provisions
Article 14 — The Cyberspace Administration of China shall be responsible for the interpretation of these Provisions.
Article 15 — These Provisions shall come into force on October 8, 2017.
Disclaimer: This English translation is provided for reference purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the original Chinese text of the Provisions on the Administration of Internet Group Information Services (2017) shall prevail in all legal matters. For matters requiring legal interpretation or application, readers are advised to consult the official Chinese text and seek professional legal advice. Dan Young Business Consultancy makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this translation and accepts no liability for any reliance placed upon it.
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