Administrative Provisions on the Information Services Provided through Online Chat Groups entered into force on 8 Oct. 2017.
There are 15 articles in total. The Administrative Provisions aim to regulate activities providing and using information services through online chat groups (products similar to WhatsApp Group/Facebook Groups, mainly referring to Wechat Group/QQ Group in China) within the territory of China. Key points of the Administrative Provisions are as follows:
Online chat groups refer to the cyberspace that is created via Internet websites, mobile Internet applications, etc., and used by multiple people to exchange information online.
The Cyberspace Administration of China and its local government counterparts are the regulatory authorities of the area.
Providers of the services through online chat groups shall authenticate users’ real identity information.
Creators and managers of the chat groups shall perform the management responsibility, and regulate the online activities and information release in the chat groups.