Internet User Public Account Information Service Management Regulations

Posted on September 7, 2017 Updated on October 15, 2020

Article 1: These Regulations are formulated in order to standardize Internet user public account information services, safeguard national security and the public interest, protect the lawful rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations, on the basis of the “Cybersecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China” and the “State Council Notice concerning Authorizing the Cyberspace Administration of China to Be Responsible for Internet Information Content Management Work”.

Article 2: These Regulations shall be observed when providing or using Internet user public accounts to engage in information dissemination services within the territory of the People’s Republic of China. 

Internet user public account information service providers as mentioned in these Regulations, refers to online platforms providing Internet user public account registration and use services. Internet user public account information service users as mentioned in these Regulations, refers to bodies or individuals using or operating Internet user public accounts to provide information dissemination services. 

Article 3: the Cyberspace Administration of China is responsible for Internet user public account information service supervision, management and law enforcement work nationwide, local Internet information offices are responsible for Internet user public account information service supervision, management and law enforcement work within their administrative areas, on the basis of their duties and responsibilities.

Article 4: Internet user public account information service providers and users shall uphold the correct orientation, carry forward the Socialist core value view, foster vigorous and healthy online culture, and maintain a benign online ecology.

All levels’ Party and government departments, enterprise and undertaking work units and people’s organizations are encouraged to register and use Internet user public accounts to disseminate government affairs information or public service information, serving economic and social development and satisfying the public’s information demand. 

Internet user public account information service providers shall cooperate with Party and government bodies, enterprise and undertaking work units and people’s organizations to enhance government information dissemination and public service levels, provide the necessary technical support and information security protection.

Article 5: Internet user public account information service providers shall bear dominant responsibility for information content security management, allocate specialist personnel and technical capabilities suited to the business scale, install general editors and other such positions responsible for information content security, establish and complete management structures for user registration, information examination and verification, emergency response, security protection, etc.

Internet user public account information service providers shall formulate and publish management norms and platform conventions, and conclude service agreements with users, clarifying both sides’ rights and interests.

Article 6: Internet user public account information service providers shall, according to the principle of “real name back stage, voluntary at the front of the stage”, conduct authentication of the real identity information of users, based on organization and body codes, identity card numbers, mobile telephone numbers, etc. Where users do not provide real identity information, no information dissemination services may be provided to them. 

Internet user public account information service providers shall establish a tiered credit management system for Internet user public account information service users, and provide corresponding services on the basis of credit tiers.

Article 7: Internet user public account information service providers shall check users’ account information, service qualifications, service scope and other such information, categorize them and add symbols, and file them with the local provincial, autonomous region or municipal Internet information office in a categorized manner. 

Internet user public account information service providers shall establish databases on the basis of users public account’s registration subjects, disseminated content, account subscription numbers, article reading numbers, etc., implement tiered and categorized management of Internet user public accounts, formulate concrete management rules and file them with the national or provincial, autonomous region and municipal Internet information offices. 

Internet user public account information service providers shall set a reasonable upper limit to the number of registered public account by the same subject on the same platform; where the same subject registers multiple accounts on the same platform, or a user operates multiple accounts in the form of a group, company or alliance, they shall be required to provide basic information on registration subjects, business scope, account list, etc., this will be filed with the local provincial, autonomous region or municipal Internet information office.

Article 8: Internet news information service providers who have lawfully obtained Internet news information gathering and dissemination qualifications, they may gather and disseminate news information through establishing a user public account. 

Article 9: Internet user public account information service providers shall adopt the necessary measures to protect users’ personal information security, they may not leak, distort or damage it, and may not illegally sell or illegally provide it to other persons.

Internet user public account information service provides shall, after a user terminates service use, provide them with account cancellation services.

Article 10: Internet user public account information service users shall bear responsibility for the secure management of information dissemination and operations, observe laws, regulations and relevant State provisions on news information management, intellectual property protection, cybersecurity protection, etc., and safeguard the online communication order.

Article 11: Internet user public account information service users may not disseminate information content prohibited by laws, regulations and relevant State provisions through public accounts.

Internet user public account information service providers shall strengthen supervision and management of public accounts on their platforms, where they discover the dissemination or transmission of unlawful information, they shall immediately adopt deletion and other such measures to deal with it, prevent transmission and diffusion, preserve relevant records, and report the matter to the relevant competent authorities.

Article 12: Internet user public account information service providers launching online public account messages, posts, comments and other such interactive functions, shall conduct security assessments according to relevant regulations.

Internet user public account information service providers shall, according to the principle of tiered and categorized management, conduct supervision and management of user public account messages, posts, comments, etc., set up by users, provide management powers to users, and provide them with support to conduct management of interactive segments. 

Internet user public account information service users shall conduct real-time management of user public account messages, posts, comments and other such interactive segments. Where management is weak, and information content prohibited by laws, regulations and relevant State provisions emerges, Internet user public account information service providers shall, on the basis of the user agreement, limit or cancel messaging, posting, commenting and other such interactive functions.

Article 13: Interactive user account information service providers shall, according to the law, adopt measures to deal with Internet user public accounts violating laws and regulations, service agreements and platform conventions, such as warning, correction, limiting functions, suspending renewal, account closure, etc., preserve relevant records and report the situation to the relevant competent department.

Internet user public account information service providers shall establish blacklist management systems, to blacklist public accounts and registration subjects gravely violating laws and conventions, adopt measures such as account closure, prohibition of re-registration, etc. in view of circumstances, preserve relevant records, and report the matter to the relevant competent department. 

Article 14: Internet sectoral organizations are encouraged to guide and promote Internet user public account information service providers and users to formulate sectoral conventions, strengthen sectoral self-discipline, and bear social responsibility.

Internet sectoral enterprises are encouraged to establish authoritative specialized mediation mechanisms with participation from multiple parties, to coordinate the resolution of sectoral disputes.

Article 15: Internet user public account information service providers and users shall accept supervision from the social public and sectoral organizations. 

Internet user public account information service providers shall set up convenient reporting interfaces, complete complaints and  reporting channels, perfect mechanisms to screen malicious reports, for report acceptance, feedback, etc. timely and fairly  deal with complaints and reports. National and local Internet information offices will, on the basis of their duties and responsibilities, conduct supervision and inspection of the report reception and implementation situation.

Article 16: Internet user public account information service providers and users shall cooperate with relevant competent departments conducting supervision and inspection according to the law, and provide the necessary technical support and assistance.

Internet user public account information service providers shall record Internet user public account information service users’ disseminated content and daily records, and preserve this for no less than six months according to regulations.

Article 17: Internet user public account information service providers and users violating these Regulations, will be punished by the relevant department according to relevant laws and regulations.

Article 18: These Regulations will take effect on 8 October 2017.

互联网用户公众账号信息服务管理规定
第一条 为规范互联网用户公众账号信息服务，维护国家安全和公共利益，保护公民、法人和其他组织的合法权益，根据《中华人民共和国网络安全法》《国务院关于授权国家互联网信息办公室负责互联网信息内容管理工作的通知》，制定本规定。
　　第二条 在中华人民共和国境内提供、使用互联网用户公众账号从事信息发布服务，应当遵守本规定。
　　本规定所称互联网用户公众账号信息服务，是指通过互联网站、应用程序等网络平台以注册用户公众账号形式，向社会公众发布文字、图片、音视频等信息的服务。
　　本规定所称互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者，是指提供互联网用户公众账号注册使用服务的网络平台。本规定所称互联网用户公众账号信息服务使用者，是指注册使用或运营互联网用户公众账号提供信息发布服务的机构或个人。
　　第三条 国家互联网信息办公室负责全国互联网用户公众账号信息服务的监督管理执法工作，地方互联网信息办公室依据职责负责本行政区域内的互联网用户公众账号信息服务的监督管理执法工作。
　　第四条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者和使用者，应当坚持正确导向，弘扬社会主义核心价值观，培育积极健康的网络文化，维护良好网络生态。
　　鼓励各级党政机关、企事业单位和人民团体注册使用互联网用户公众账号发布政务信息或公共服务信息，服务经济社会发展，满足公众信息需求。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当配合党政机关、企事业单位和人民团体提升政务信息发布和公共服务水平，提供必要的技术支撑和信息安全保障。
　　第五条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当落实信息内容安全管理主体责任，配备与服务规模相适应的专业人员和技术能力，设立总编辑等信息内容安全负责人岗位，建立健全用户注册、信息审核、应急处置、安全防护等管理制度。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当制定和公开管理规则和平台公约，与使用者签订服务协议，明确双方权利义务。
　　第六条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当按照“后台实名、前台自愿”的原则，对使用者进行基于组织机构代码、身份证件号码、移动电话号码等真实身份信息认证。使用者不提供真实身份信息的，不得为其提供信息发布服务。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当建立互联网用户公众账号信息服务使用者信用等级管理体系，根据信用等级提供相应服务。
　　第七条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当对使用者的账号信息、服务资质、服务范围等信息进行审核，分类加注标识，并向所在地省、自治区、直辖市互联网信息办公室分类备案。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当根据用户公众账号的注册主体、发布内容、账号订阅数、文章阅读量等建立数据库，对互联网用户公众账号实行分级分类管理，制定具体管理制度并向国家或省、自治区、直辖市互联网信息办公室备案。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当对同一主体在同一平台注册公众账号的数量合理设定上限；对同一主体在同一平台注册多个账号，或以集团、公司、联盟等形式运营多个账号的使用者，应要求其提供注册主体、业务范围、账号清单等基本信息，并向所在地省、自治区、直辖市互联网信息办公室备案。
　　第八条 依法取得互联网新闻信息采编发布资质的互联网新闻信息服务提供者，可以通过开设的用户公众账号采编发布新闻信息。
　　第九条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当采取必要措施保护使用者个人信息安全，不得泄露、篡改、毁损，不得非法出售或者非法向他人提供。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者在使用者终止使用服务后，应当为其提供注销账号的服务。
　　第十条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务使用者应当履行信息发布和运营安全管理责任，遵守新闻信息管理、知识产权保护、网络安全保护等法律法规和国家有关规定，维护网络传播秩序。
　　第十一条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务使用者不得通过公众账号发布法律法规和国家有关规定禁止的信息内容。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应加强对本平台公众账号的监测管理，发现有发布、传播违法信息的，应当立即采取消除等处置措施，防止传播扩散，保存有关记录，并向有关主管部门报告。
　　第十二条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者开发上线公众账号留言、跟帖、评论等互动功能，应当按有关规定进行安全评估。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当按照分级分类管理原则，对使用者开设的用户公众账号的留言、跟帖、评论等进行监督管理，并向使用者提供管理权限，为其对互动环节实施管理提供支持。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务使用者应当对用户公众账号留言、跟帖、评论等互动环节进行实时管理。对管理不力、出现法律法规和国家有关规定禁止的信息内容的，互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当依据用户协议限制或取消其留言、跟帖、评论等互动功能。
　　第十三条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当对违反法律法规、服务协议和平台公约的互联网用户公众账号，依法依约采取警示整改、限制功能、暂停更新、关闭账号等处置措施，保存有关记录，并向有关主管部门报告。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当建立黑名单管理制度，对违法违约情节严重的公众账号及注册主体纳入黑名单，视情采取关闭账号、禁止重新注册等措施，保存有关记录，并向有关主管部门报告。
　　第十四条 鼓励互联网行业组织指导推动互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者、使用者制定行业公约，加强行业自律，履行社会责任。
　　鼓励互联网行业组织建立多方参与的权威专业调解机制，协调解决行业纠纷。
　　第十五条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者和使用者应当接受社会公众、行业组织监督。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当设置便捷举报入口，健全投诉举报渠道，完善恶意举报甄别、举报受理反馈等机制，及时公正处理投诉举报。国家和地方互联网信息办公室依据职责，对举报受理落实情况进行监督检查。
　　第十六条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者和使用者应当配合有关主管部门依法进行的监督检查，并提供必要的技术支持和协助。
　　互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者应当记录互联网用户公众账号信息服务使用者发布内容和日志信息，并按规定留存不少于六个月。
　　第十七条 互联网用户公众账号信息服务提供者和使用者违反本规定的，由有关部门依照相关法律法规处理。
　　第十八条 本规定自2017年10月8日起施行。