Timeline of regulations
November 2016
・ The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passes China's first Cybersecurity Law.
・ It allows authorities to take action against overseas individuals or organizations that harm China's interests.
June 1, 2017
・ The Cybersecurity Law comes into effect.
・ Information and important data in key fields should be protected, as well as "sensitive" infrastructure, telecommunications services and the financial sector.
・ A ban on online service providers collecting personal information from users that is irrelevant to the services they provide.
・ Personal information should be obtained in accordance with relevant laws.
August 2017
・ China's Cyberspace Administration, or CCA, adopts supplementary regulations based on the Cybersecurity Law.
・ Service providers must take responsibility for reviewing and supervising online information and forums.
・ Online forum users must be registered under their real names.
・ Internet administrators should increase supervision on online comments.
・ Illegal comments should not be published.
・ People who publish illegal comments should be named on a blacklist.
September 2017
・ CCA issues new supplementary regulations based on the Cybersecurity Law.
・ Social media and internet group chats, such as WeChat, QQ and Weibo, come under new regulations.
・ Groups that post illegal content, such as pornography, violence, terrorism-related offenses and false information, will have their accounts closed or suspended.
・ The groups' founders will have their credit ratings lowered, their management rights suspended and put on a blacklist.
October 2017
・ CCA adopts further supplementary regulations based on the Cybersecurity Law.
・ The behavior of employees working for online news service providers comes under new regulations.
・ Staff members to receive regular training.
・ Those posting improper information will be named on a blacklist.
・ While developing new internet technologies, news service providers must safeguard national security and public interest.
