Order of the State Internet Information Office

No. 5

The Regulations on Ecological Governance of Network Information Content, which has been deliberated and adopted at the office meeting of the State Internet Information Office, is hereby promulgated and will come into force as of March 1, 2020.

Director Zhuang Rongwen

December 15, 2019

Regulations on Ecological Governance of Network Information Content

general provisions

Article 1 In order to create a good network ecology, protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations, and safeguard national security and public interests, these Provisions are formulated in accordance with the National Security Law of the People's Republic of China, the Network Security Law of the People's Republic of China, the Internet Information Service Management Act and other laws and administrative regulations.

Article 2 These Provisions shall apply to the ecological governance of network information content within the territory of the People's Republic of China.

The term "ecological governance of network information content" as mentioned in these regulations refers to the promotion of positive energy Handling illegal and bad information and other related activities.

Article 3 The national network information department is responsible for the overall coordination of the national network information content ecological governance and related supervision and management work, and the relevant competent departments do a good job in the network information content ecological governance work according to their respective responsibilities.

Local network information departments are responsible for coordinating the ecological governance of network information content and related supervision and management in their own administrative regions, and local competent departments are responsible for the ecological governance of network information content in their own administrative regions according to their respective responsibilities.

Chapter II Network Information Content Producer

Article 4 Network information content producers shall abide by laws and regulations, follow public order and good customs, and shall not damage the national interests, public interests and the legitimate rights and interests of others.

Article 5 Network information content producers are encouraged to produce, copy and publish information containing the following contents:

（1） Propagandizing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and comprehensively, accurately and vividly interpreting the road, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics;

（2） Propagandizing the Party's theoretical line, principles and policies and the major decisions and arrangements of the Central Committee;

（3） Showing the highlights of economic and social development, reflecting the great struggle and hot life of the people;

（4） Promoting socialist core values, propagating excellent moral culture and the spirit of the times, and fully demonstrating the uplifting spirit of the Chinese nation;

（5） Effectively respond to social concerns, dispel doubts and clarify reasons, and help guide the masses to form consensus;

（6） It will help to improve the international influence of Chinese culture and show the world the true, three-dimensional and comprehensive Chinese culture;

（7） Other contents include taste, style and responsibility, eulogizing the true, the good and the beautiful, and promoting unity and stability.

Article 6 Producers of network information content shall not produce, copy or publish illegal information containing the following contents:

（1） Opposing the basic principles set forth in the Constitution;

（2） Endangering national security, divulging state secrets, subverting state power and undermining national unity;

（3） Damage to national honor and interests;

（4） Distortioning, vilifying, blaspheming or denying the deeds and spirit of the heroic martyrs, or infringing upon their names, portraits, reputation or honor by insulting, slandering or other means;

（5） Publicizing terrorism and extremism or inciting terrorist and extremist activities;

（6） Inciting national hatred and discrimination, and undermining national unity;

（7） Those who undermine the state's religious policy and promote heresy and feudal superstition;

（8） Spreading rumors and disturbing economic and social order;

（9） Spreading obscenity, pornography, gambling, violence, murder, terror or abetting crime;

（10） Insult or slander others, and infringe upon others' reputation, privacy and other legitimate rights and interests;

（11） Other contents prohibited by laws and administrative regulations.

Article 7 The producers of network information content shall take measures to prevent and resist the production, reproduction and release of bad information containing the following contents:

（1） The use of exaggerated titles, the content of which is seriously inconsistent with the title;

（2） Hyping scandals, scandals, bad deeds, etc;

（3） Improperly commenting on natural disasters, major accidents and other disasters;

（4） Those with sexual suggestion, sexual provocation, etc. that are easy to make people have sexual associations;

（5） Showing bloody, thrilling, cruel and other causes physical and mental discomfort;

（6） Inciting crowd discrimination, regional discrimination, etc;

（7） Publicizing vulgar, vulgar and kitsch contents;

（8） It may cause minors to imitate unsafe behaviors, violate social morality, and induce minors' bad habits;

（9） Other contents that have adverse effects on the network ecology.

Chapter III Network Information Content Service Platform

Article 8 The network information content service platform shall fulfill the main responsibility of information content management, strengthen the ecological governance of the network information content of this platform, and cultivate a positive, healthy and upward looking network culture.

Article 9 The network information content service platform shall establish an ecological governance mechanism for network information content, formulate detailed rules for the ecological governance of network information content of the platform, and improve the systems of user registration, account management, information release review, post review review, page ecological management, real-time inspection, emergency disposal, and network rumors, black industry chain information disposal, etc.

The network information content service platform shall set up a person in charge of the ecological governance of network information content, equip professionals appropriate to the business scope and service scale, strengthen training and assessment, and improve the quality of employees.

Article 10 The network information content service platform shall not disseminate the information specified in Article 6 of these Provisions, and shall prevent and resist the dissemination of the information specified in Article 7 of these Provisions.

The network information content service platform shall strengthen the management of information content. If it discovers the information specified in Articles 6 and 7 of these Provisions, it shall immediately take measures to deal with it according to law, keep relevant records, and report to the relevant competent department.

Article 11 Encourage the network information content service platform to adhere to the mainstream value orientation, optimize the information recommendation mechanism, strengthen the ecological management of page layout, and actively present the information specified in Article 5 of this provision in the following key links (including service type, location, etc.):

（1） Home screen, pop-up window and important news information content page of Internet news information service;

（2） Selection and hot search of Internet users' public account information services;

（3） Blog, microblog information service popular recommendation, list category, pop-up window and information service section based on geographical location;

（4） Internet information search service hot search words, hot search pictures and default search;

（5） The first screen of the home page of the community service of the Internet forum, the list category, the pop-up window, etc;

（6） Home screen, discovery, selection, list category, pop-up window, etc. of Internet audio and video services;

（7） Internet website navigation service, browser service, input method service homepage first screen, list category, skin, associative words, pop-up window, etc;

（8） Digital reading, online games, online animation service home screen, selection, list category, pop-up window, etc;

（9） Home screen, popular recommendation and pop-up window of life service and knowledge service platform;

（10） Home screen and recommendation area of e-commerce platform;

（11） Mobile application store, mobile intelligent terminal preset application software and built-in information content service first screen, recommendation area, etc;

（12） Internet information content columns, special zones and products that specifically serve minors;

（13） Other key links that are eye-catching in products or services and are easy to attract the attention of users of network information content services.

The network information content service platform shall not present the information specified in Article 7 of these Provisions in the above key links.

Article 12 Where the network information content service platform uses personalized algorithm recommendation technology to push information, it shall set up a recommendation model that meets the requirements of Articles 10 and 11 of these Provisions, and establish and improve the mechanism of manual intervention and user independent selection.

Article 13 Encourage the network information content service platform to develop a model suitable for minors, provide network products and services suitable for minors, and facilitate minors to obtain information beneficial to physical and mental health.

Article 14 The network information content service platform shall strengthen the examination and inspection of the advertising space set up on the platform and the advertising content displayed on the platform, and shall deal with the illegal advertising according to law.

Article 15 The network information content service platform shall formulate and publicize the management rules and platform conventions, improve the user agreement, clarify the relevant rights and obligations of users, and perform the corresponding management responsibilities according to the law.

The network information content service platform shall establish a user account credit management system and provide corresponding services according to the credit status of user accounts.

Article 16 The network information content service platform shall set up a convenient complaint and reporting entrance in a prominent position, publicize the complaint and reporting methods, accept and handle the public complaints and reports in a timely manner, and feed back the handling results.

Article 17 The network information content service platform shall prepare an annual report on the ecological governance of network information content, which shall include the work of ecological governance of network information content, the performance of the person in charge of ecological governance of network information content, social evaluation, etc.

Chapter IV Users of Network Information Content Services

Article 18 Users of network information content services shall use the network in a civilized and healthy manner, earnestly fulfill their corresponding obligations in accordance with the requirements of laws and regulations and the user agreement, and interact with each other in a civilized and rational manner when participating in network activities in the form of posting, replying, leaving messages, and pop-up screens, and shall not release the information specified in Article 6 of these Provisions, Prevent and resist the information specified in Article 7 of these Provisions.

Article 19 The creators and managers of online groups and forum communities shall fulfill the responsibility of group and forum management and regulate the information release in groups and forums in accordance with laws and regulations, user agreements and platform conventions.

Article 20 Encourage users of network information content services to actively participate in the ecological governance of network information content, supervise illegal and bad online information through complaints, reports and other means, and jointly maintain a good network ecology.

Article 21 Network information content service users, network information content producers and network information content service platforms shall not use the network and relevant information technology to insult, slander, threaten, spread rumors, infringe on the privacy of others and other illegal acts, and damage the legitimate rights and interests of others.

Article 22 Network information content service users, network information content producers and network information content service platforms shall not infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of others or seek illegal interests by publishing, deleting information or other means of interfering with the presentation of information.

Article 23 Network information content service users, network information content producers and network information content service platforms shall not engage in activities prohibited by laws and administrative regulations by using new technologies and applications such as deep learning and virtual reality.

Article 24 Network information content service users, network information content producers, and network information content service platforms shall not, through manual or technical means, commit traffic fraud, traffic hijacking, false registered accounts, illegal trading accounts, manipulation of user accounts, and other acts to undermine the network ecological order.

Article 25 Network information content service users, network information content producers and network information content service platforms shall not use the party flag, party emblem, national flag, national emblem, national anthem and other signs and contents representing the image of the party and the country, or borrow the names of major national events, major anniversaries, state organs and their staff, etc, Carry out online commercial marketing activities in violation of laws and regulations.

Chapter V Network Industry Organizations

Article 26 Encourage industry organizations to play the role of service guidance and bridge link, guide member units to enhance their sense of social responsibility, sing the main theme, carry forward positive energy, oppose illegal information, and prevent and resist bad information.

Article 27 Encourage industry organizations to establish and improve industry self-discipline mechanisms, formulate industry norms and self-discipline conventions for ecological governance of network information content, establish detailed rules for content review standards, guide member units to establish and improve service norms, provide network information content services according to law, and accept social supervision.

Article 28 Encourage industry organizations to carry out education, training, publicity and guidance on the ecological governance of network information content, improve the governance ability of member units and employees, and enhance the awareness of the whole society to participate in the ecological governance of network information content.

Article 29 Encourage industry organizations to promote the construction of industry credit evaluation system, establish industry evaluation and other evaluation reward and punishment mechanisms in accordance with the Articles of Association, increase the incentive and punishment for member units, and strengthen the sense of trustworthiness of member units.

Chapter VI Supervision and Management

Article 30 The network information departments at all levels shall, together with the relevant competent departments, establish and improve the working mechanisms for information sharing, consultation and notification, joint law enforcement, case supervision, information disclosure, etc., and cooperate in the ecological governance of network information content.

Article 31 The network information departments at all levels shall supervise and inspect the implementation of information content management subject responsibilities by the network information content service platform, and carry out special supervision and inspection on the problematic platform.

The network information content service platform shall cooperate with the network information department and relevant competent departments in their supervision and inspection according to law.

Article 32 The network information departments at all levels shall establish the account management system for the violations of laws and regulations of the network information content service platform, and deal with them according to laws and regulations.

Article 33 The network information departments at all levels shall establish a supervision and evaluation mechanism jointly participated by the government, enterprises, society, netizens and other subjects, and regularly evaluate the ecological governance of the network information content service platform in their own administrative regions.

Chapter VII Legal Liability

Article 34 Where the producer of network information content violates the provisions of Article 6 of these Provisions, the network information content service platform shall take such measures as warning rectification, function restriction, suspension of updating, account closure, etc. in accordance with the law, eliminate the illegal information content in a timely manner, keep records and report to the relevant competent department.

Article 35 If the network information content service platform violates the provisions of Article 10 and Paragraph 2 of Article 31 of these Provisions, the relevant competent departments such as NetEase shall, according to their duties, deal with it in accordance with the provisions of laws and administrative regulations such as the Network Security Law of the People's Republic of China and the Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services.

Article 36 If the network information content service platform violates the provisions of the second paragraph of Article 11 of these Provisions, the network information department at or above the level of a city divided into districts shall conduct an interview according to its duties, give a warning and order it to correct within a time limit; If it refuses to make corrections or the circumstances are serious, it shall be ordered to suspend the updating of information and be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 37 If the network information content service platform violates the provisions of Article 9, 12, 15, 16 and 17 of these Provisions, the network information department at or above the level of a city divided into districts shall conduct an interview according to its duties, give a warning and order it to make corrections within a time limit; If it refuses to make corrections or the circumstances are serious, it shall be ordered to suspend the updating of information and be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 38 In case of violation of the provisions of Articles 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 of these Provisions, relevant competent departments such as NetEase shall deal with them according to their duties and in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Article 39 In accordance with laws, administrative regulations and relevant national regulations, the network information department, together with the relevant competent departments, shall establish and improve the joint disciplinary mechanism for serious dishonesty of network information content services, and impose restrictions on network information content service platforms, network information content producers and network information content users who seriously violate these regulations in accordance with laws and regulations to engage in network information services Disciplinary measures such as online behavior restrictions and industry ban.

Article 40 Those who violate these provisions and cause damage to others shall bear civil liability according to law; If a crime is constituted, criminal responsibility shall be investigated according to law; If the case does not constitute a crime, the relevant competent department shall punish it in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions

Article 41 The term "network information content producers" as mentioned in these Provisions refers to organizations or individuals that produce, copy and publish network information content.

The term "network information content service platform" as mentioned in these Provisions refers to the network information service provider that provides network information content dissemination services.

The term "users of network information content services" as mentioned in these Provisions refers to organizations or individuals that use network information content services.

Article 42 These Provisions shall come into force as of March 1, 2020.