Internet content provision service operators are required to monitor their websites. They may not post or disseminate any content that falls within these prohibited categories and must remove any such content from their websites. The PRC government may shut down the websites of Internet Content Provision License holders that violate any of the above-mentioned content restrictions, order them to suspend their operations, or revoke their Internet Content Provision Licenses.
On February 4, 2015, the CAC promulgated the Administrative Provisions on Account Names of Internet Users, or the Account Names Provisions, which became effective as of March 1, 2015. The Account Name Provisions require internet service providers to authenticate registered users’ identity information and to commit to complying with the “seven basic requirements,” including, among other things, observing the laws and regulations, protecting state interests, as well as ensuring the authenticity of any information they provide. Relevant internet information service providers are responsible for protecting users’ privacy, the consistency between user information, such as account names, avatars, and the requirements set forth in the Account Names Provisions, making reports to the competent authorities regarding any violation of the Account Names Provisions, and taking appropriate measures to stop any such violations, such as, notifying the user to make corrections within a specified time and suspending or closing accounts in the event of continuing non-compliance.
On October 26, 2021, the CAC issued draft Administrative Provisions on the Account Names of Internet Users, revising the Account Names Provisions. This draft provides that when registering an internet account, the user shall execute an agreement with the Internet user account services platform, provide authentic identity information, and obey the rules of the platform. Internet user account service platforms shall establish, improve and strictly implement, among others, account name information management system, information content security system, and personal information protection system. Internet user account service platforms should also establish protocols to ensure authenticity of account and user identity information. When an Internet user account is in violation of the provisions of this draft, the Internet user account service platform shall suspend the service and inform the user to correct the issue within a limited time frame; and if the user refuses to correct it, the account shall be closed.
On August 25, 2017, the CAC promulgated the Administrative Provisions on Internet Follow-up Comment Services, which became effective as of October 1, 2017. It provides that services related to following-up on or responding to online comments must also strictly verify the identification information of registered users, establish and improve a user information protection system, establish and improve an Internet follow-up comment review and administration system for real-time monitoring of user comments, and emergency responses, among other things.
On August 25, 2017, the CAC promulgated the Administrative Provisions on Internet Forum and Community Services, which became effective as of October 1, 2017. It provides that Internet forum and community service providers must assume primary responsibility for establishing and improving real-time information verification, emergency response capabilities, and personal information protections as well as other information security administration systems to institute preventative safety measures with employed professionals and necessary technical support for performing these duties.
On September 7, 2017, the CAC promulgated the Provisions on the Administration of Information Services Provided through Chat Groups on the Internet, which became effective as of October 8, 2017. It requires that providers verify the identification information of users of information services through Internet chat groups and take necessary measures to protect user safety and personal information.
On September 7, 2017, the CAC promulgated the Administrative Provisions on the Information Services Provided through Official Accounts of Internet Users, as amended on January 22, 2021 and became effective on February 22, 2021. Pursuant to the amended provisions, official accounts, or public accounts on certain social media, refer to subscription accounts created and run by users of internet platforms to distribute information to the public. These platforms are required to establish and improve a management system for user registration, information content security, content ecology, data security, personal information protection, intellectual property protection and credit assessment, and a monitoring and evaluation mechanism for public accounts, to prevent fraud such as false account subscriptions and interaction counts. Platforms shall also establish and disclose management rules and platform codes with respect to information content production and public account operation, both of which shall be filed with the local cyberspace administrator. The amended provisions also require platforms to verify the consistency of user information on the platform with the user’s real identity and prohibit the operators of public accounts from illegally transferring those accounts to others. Furthermore, platform shall establish and improve mechanisms to deal with online rumors and other false information. When cooperating with an account operator, platforms shall regulate and manage business acts such as e-commerce sales, advertisement publishing, user reward, etc. In addition, platform operators are obligated to prevent false advertisements and commercial fraud from occurring on their platforms.
On December 15, 2019, the CAC promulgated the Regulations on the Ecological Governance of Network Information Content, effective from March 1, 2020, which specify the content scopes that are encouraged, prohibited or prevented from producing, re-