After viewing content on foreign websites, simply close the page — do not screenshot, share, repost, or discuss it in any groups or comment sections.
These laws target actions of spreading content abroad, not merely viewing it. One notable exception applies to books, audio, or video materials promoting terrorism or extremism: simply possessing such materials with full knowledge of their nature can lead to a sentence of up to three years in prison, depending on the severity of the case. For all other content, reposting, sharing in groups, or commenting on it is considered dissemination. If such actions amount to inciting subversion or separatism, the penalty is up to five years; leaders or those with major roles face more than five years. Those collaborating with foreign entities to commit these acts face harsher penalties. Anyone receiving funding from abroad to carry out such activities may be sentenced to five years or less; repeat offenders or those with serious consequences face more than five years. Illegally obtaining or providing state secrets or intelligence to foreign entities results in five to ten years in prison; especially severe cases may lead to life imprisonment or over ten years. Even lesser violations still incur a mandatory deprivation of political rights for one to five years, during which voting rights and eligibility for public office are suspended. Additional penalties may include confiscation of personal assets. On the administrative side, no individual or organization may use the internet to threaten national security, honor, or interests, or to incite subversion, separatism, or anti-socialist activities. Violators face penalties under relevant laws and regulations. Possessing extremist or terrorist materials without sharing them can also lead to criminal charges under Article 120-6 of the Criminal Law, punishable by up to three years in prison, fines, or both.
No cost involved. Once the page is closed, the matter is o…
Those who spread false information, slander, or otherwise incite others to subvert state authority or overthro…
No cost involved. Once the page is closed, the matter is over. There is no need to archive, share, or repost the content to domestic platforms. You also don’t need an account tied to your real identity to post political content on foreign platforms, nor should you accept any payments or funding from foreign agencies, organizations, or individuals. The real challenge is resisting the urge to screenshot or share content that seems shocking or provocative.
Those who spread false information, slander, or otherwise incite others to subvert state authority or overthrow socialism face up to five years in prison; leaders or major offenders may receive up to fifteen years. Similar penalties apply to those inciting separatism or undermining national unity. Collaborating with foreign entities to commit these acts results in harsher sentences. Funding such activities from abroad leads to penalties of five years or less for responsible individuals; repeat offenders face more than five years. Illegally obtaining or providing state secrets or intelligence to foreign entities results in five to ten years in prison; especially severe cases may lead to life imprisonment or over ten years. Even lesser violations still incur a mandatory deprivation of political rights for one to five years, during which voting rights and eligibility for public office are suspended. Additional penalties may include confiscation of personal assets. Administrative violations also carry penalties.
全国人大 (1997). 刑法（第四十五、五十五、五十六、一百零三、一百零五、一百零六、一百零七、一百一十一、一百一十三条，这几条未经修正案修改）. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml；全国人大常委会 (2025). 网络安全法（2025 年修正，2026 年 1 月 1 日施行，第十三条第二款、第七十一条第一项）. https://www.cac.gov.cn/2025-12/29/c_1768735112911946.htm；全国人大常委会 (2015). 刑法修正案（九）（新增第一百二十条之六）. 国家信访局转载全文 https://www.gjxfj.gov.cn/gjxfj/fgwj/flfg/webinfo/2017/03/1601761496614423.htm
Open source linkThe provisions cited here apply to actions of inciting others, spreading content, or providing it to third parties — not merely viewing it. This rule applies only to ordinary content. Materials promoting terrorism or extremism are explicitly exempted by law; mere possession of such materials can lead to criminal charges (Article 120-6). For these materials, refraining from archiving or sharing is not merely a precaution — it is a legal requirement. Upon encountering such content, you must stop at viewing it alone: no screenshots, no sharing, no comments, and no attempts to involve others. Reposting or commenting is deemed dissemination, and claims such as “I only reposted it” do not serve as a defense. Content originating from foreign platforms may attract even harsher penalties. When in doubt about authenticity, avoid sharing it altogether — this aligns with the advice in Section 1 of this chapter regarding not sharing unverified information. Penalties related to the use of tools for circumventing internet restrictions are covered in Section 11, Article 11. In reality, sharing such content offers no tangible benefits; instead, it risks lengthy imprisonment, loss of political rights, and confiscation of assets. Publicly documented cases involving similar offenses are rare, typically reported only by foreign media or disclosed by family members; one example is a blogger who posted political commentary abroad and was sentenced to seven years in 2023. As no official court rulings have been verified for this book, this section outlines legal provisions without referencing specific cases.