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 laws cited here punish inciting others, spreading outward, and providing to others; mere viewing is not among them. Material on terrorism or extremism is the statute’s stated exception: merely keeping it can convict (Article 120-6). So that class must never be archived. Once you have seen it, stop there: no screenshot archive, no forward, no comment, no pulling others to forward. Forwarding and chiming in in comments both count as dissemination when a case is built; “I only forwarded it” does not excuse you. Doing it in collusion with foreign institutions, organizations, or individuals is punished more heavily. When you are unsure whether something is true, still more reason not to join the forward — see item 1 in this section (do not forward unverified messages). How tools for bypassing the firewall are punished is in Section 11, item 11. Spreading this kind of content brings no real benefit and costs prison time, deprivation of political rights, and confiscation of property. This book has not obtained judgment documents checkable through official channels, so it follows the statutes only and attaches no cases.