---
title_en: "Administrative Measures for Internet Information Services (2024 Revision)"
title_zh: "互联网信息服务管理办法（2024 修订）"
hierarchy: "regulation"
issuing_body: "State Council"
adopted_date: 2024-12-06
effective_date: 2025-01-20
status: "effective"
related_laws: ["csl", "pipl"]
domains: ["data-security", "personal-information"]
url: https://datacompliancechina.com/laws/internet-information-services-measures/
summary: "The foundational regulation of Internet Information Services (ICP) in China — the regulatory baseline beneath nearly every later data-protection rule. Establishes the ICP licensing regime (operational vs. non-operational), platform compliance obligations, content management, and the role of telecommunications and cyberspace administrative authorities. The 2024 revision aligns the regulation with CSL, DSL, PIPL, and the post-2022 platform rules."
---
**Promulgated by:** State Council.  
**Document No.:** State Council Decree No. 292 (2000), revised by Decree No. 292 (2011) and Decree (2024).  
**Original Decree No. 292 (2000); revised by State Council decisions in 2011 and again on December 6, 2024. The current version takes effect January 20, 2025.**

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**Article 1.** These Measures are enacted in order to regulate activities of internet-based information services and promote the healthy and orderly development of internet-based information services.

**Article 2.** Those who engage in internet-based information services within the territory of the People's Republic of China shall abide by these Measures. For the purpose of these Measures, the "internet-based information services" refer to service activities of providing information to online users through the Internet.

**Article 3.** Internet-based information services are divided into services of a commercial nature and services of a non-commercial nature. Commercial internet-based information services refer to compensatory services of providing information to or creating web pages for online users through the Internet. Non-commercial internet-based information services refer to non-compensatory services of supplying, through the Internet, to online users information which is open to and shared by the general public.

**Article 4.** The State shall implement a licensing system for internet-based information services of a commercial nature and a filing system for internet-based information services of a non-commercial nature. No one may engage in internet-based information services without having obtained a licensing or having completed the filing procedures.

**Article 5.** Prior to applying for operation licensing or performing the filing formalities for such internet-based information services as media, publishing, education that subject to approval by the competent authorities in accordance with laws, administrative regulations and relevant provisions of the State, an approval from the relevant competent authorities shall be obtained in accordance with the law. ( ) ( ) ( ) Article 6 The engagement in commercial internet-based information services shall, in addition to compliance with requirements as prescribed by the Telecommunications Regulation of the People's Republic of China, meet the following conditions: (1) having a business development plan and relevant technical schemes;

(2) having sound measures for network and information security, including security measures for web site safety, management systems for maintaining information security and secrecy, and management systems for safeguarding users' information; and

(3) having obtained approval documents from the competent authorities where the services fall within the scope of Article 5 hereof. ( ) 60

**Article 7.** Whoever intends to engage in commercial internet-based information services shall apply to the administrative organ in charge of telecommunications in the relevant province, autonomous region or directly administered municipality, or to the State Council department in charge of the information industry, for a permit to operate value-added telecommunications business in internet-based information services (hereinafter referred to as "operation permit"). The administrative organ in charge of telecommunications in the relevant province, autonomous region or directly administered municipality, or the State Council department in charge of the information industry, shall, within sixty (60) days of receipt of the application, complete the examination of the application and make a decision on whether or not to grant an approval. Where an approval is granted, an operation permit shall be issued; where an approval is not granted, the applicant shall be notified in writing and explained the reasons thereunder. After having received the operation permit, the applicant shall complete registration procedures with an enterprise registration organ by presenting the operation permit. ( ) ( ) ( )

**Article 8.** Whoever intends to engage in non-commercial internet-based information services shall complete the filing formalities with the administrative organ in charge of telecommunications in the relevant province, autonomous region or directly administered municipality, or to the State Council department in charge of the information industry. When handling filing procedures, the following materials shall be submitted: (1) the general situations of the sponsor and the person in charge of web sites;

(2) the addresses of the web sites and the items of services; and

(3) the approval documents of the relevant competent authorities, where the service items fall within the scope of Article 5 hereof. Where materials submitted for filing are complete, the administrative organ in charge of telecommunications in the relevant province, autonomous region or directly administered municipality shall have them filed and numbered.

**Article 9.** Those engaging in internet-based information services and proposing to provide electronic announcement services shall, when applying for a licensing for commercial internet-based information services or processing the filing procedures for non-commercial internet-based information services, also submit specific applications for such services or make specific filing for such services, in accordance with relevant provisions of the State.

**Article 10.** The administrative organ in charge of telecommunications in the relevant province, autonomous region or directly administered municipality, or the State Council department in charge of the information industry shall publish a list of internet-based information services providers who have obtained the operation permits or have completed the filing procedures. 30 Article 11 An internet-based information services provider shall deliver its services in compliance with the items as licensed or filed and may not provide services other than the items which have been licensed or filed for record. A non-commercial internet-based information services provider shall not engage in compensatory services. An internet-based information services provider who intends to alter its service items, address of web site or other matters shall complete formalities for alteration thirty (30) days in advance with the original examination organ and the issuing organ or the filing organ.

**Article 12.** An internet-based information services provider shall indicate its operation permit number or filing number in the home pages of its web site.

**Article 13.** An internet-based information services provider shall provide sound services to its online users and ensure that the contents of all information provided are lawful. 60 Article 14 An internet-based information services provider who engages in media, publishing, electronic announcement and other services shall record the contents of information provided and the time of publication, the internet address or domain name. An internet connection services provider shall record such information as the time of the subscribers' access to the Internet, the account numbers of the subscribers, the address or domain name of the web site and the main telephone numbers for the connection. An internet-based information services provider or an internet access services provider shall keep the records for a period of sixty (60) days and provide them to the relevant state organs as inquired in accordance with the law. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) Article 15 An internet-based information services provider shall not produce, duplicate, release or disseminate the following information: (1) being against the fundamental principles set out in the Constitution;

(2) endangering national security, leaking state secrets, inciting to overthrow state power, or undermining the national unity;

(3) damaging the State's honor and harming the interests of the State;

(4) inciting ethnic hatred and ethnic discrimination or undermining solidarity among all ethnicities;

(5) undermining the State's policies on religions, and advocating religious cults and feudal superstition;

(6) disseminating rumors to disrupt social order and undermine social stability;

(7) disseminating obscene materials, advocating gambling, violence, killing and terrorism, or instigating others to commit crimes;

(8) humiliating or defaming other persons or infringing upon the legitimate rights and interests of the others; and

(9) otherwise prohibited by laws and administrative regulations.

**Article 16.** Where an internet-based information services provider discovers that information circulated in its web site clearly falls under one of the contents listed in Article 15 hereof, it shall stop the transmission immediately, keep the relevant records and report such to a relevant organ of the state.

**Article 17.** If a commercial internet-based information services provider applies for listing in China or overseas, or for establishing a joint equity venture or joint cooperation with foreign investors, it shall apply, in advance, to the State Council department in charge of information industry for examination and approval; in such cases, the ratio of foreign investment shall comply with provisions of relevant laws and administrative regulations.

**Article 18.** The administrative organs in charge of telecommunications in provinces, autonomous regions and directly administered municipalities, and the State Council department in charge of information industry shall exercise supervision and administration over internet-based information services in accordance with the law. Departments in charge of media, publishing, education, health, drug regulation, industry and commerce administration, public security and state security, and other relevant competent departments, shall, within their respective jurisdictions, exercise supervision and administration over the contents of internet-based information in accordance with the law. 3 5 5 10 100

**Article 19.** Whoever, in violation of provisions of these Measures, engages in internet-based information services of a commercial nature without having obtained an operation permit or provides services outside the licensed scope, shall be ordered by the administrative organ in charge of telecommunications in the relevant province, autonomous region or directly administered municipality to rectify the situation within a set time limit; where illegal gains are made, such gains shall be confiscated, and a fine of more than 300 per cent and less than 500 per cent of the amount of the illegal gains shall be imposed; where there are no illegal gains or the amount of illegal gains is less than 50,000 yuan, a fine of more than 100,000 yuan and less than 1,000,000 yuan shall be imposed; where the circumstances are serious, the web sites shall be ordered to close down. Whoever, in violation of provisions of these Measures, engages in internet-based information services of a non-commercial nature without having completed the filing formalities, or provides services beyond the items filed, shall be ordered by the administrative organ in charge of telecommunications in the province, autonomous region or directly administered municipality to rectify the situation within a set time limit; if rectification is refused, the web sites shall be ordered to be closed down.

**Article 20.** Whoever produces, duplicates, releases or disseminates information containing one of the contents listed in Article 15 hereof shall be investigated for criminal liability if the case constitutes a crime; where a crime is not constituted, the public security organ and the state security organ shall impose penalties in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Punishment for Violation of Social Security Administration, the Administrative Measures on Security Protection of International Connections to Computer Information Networks, and provisions of other relevant laws and administrative regulations; for those commercial internet-based information services providers, the permit issuing organ shall additionally order them to have their business suspended for rectification or revoke their operation permits, and notify the enterprise registration organ; for those non-commercial internet-based information services providers, the filing authority shall additionally order them to temporarily close or permanently close down their web sites.

**Article 21.** Whoever fails to fulfil the obligations as stipulated in Article 14 hereof shall be ordered by the administrative organ in charge of telecommunications in the province, autonomous region or directly administered municipality to rectify the situation; where the circumstances are serious, be ordered to suspend operation for rectification or to temporarily close down the web site. 5000 5 Article 22 Whoever, in violation of provisions of these Measures, fails to indicate its operation permit number or the filing number in its web site home pages shall be ordered by the administrative organ in charge of telecommunications in the province, autonomous region or directly administered municipality to rectify the situation, and be subject to a fine of more than 5,000 yuan and less than 50,000 yuan.

**Article 23.** Whoever fails to fulfil the obligations as stipulated in Article 16 hereof shall be ordered by the administrative organ in charge of telecommunications in the province, autonomous region or directly administered municipality to rectify the situation; where the circumstances are serious, in cases of commercial internet-based information services providers, the permit issuing organ shall revoke the operation permit of the provider, and in cases of non-commercial internet-based information services providers, the filing authority shall order the provider to close down its web site.

**Article 24.** Where any internet-based information services provider violates other laws and regulation in the cause of providing services, the authorities in charge of media, publishing, education, health, drug regulation, industry and commerce administration etc. shall impose penalties on it in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

**Article 25.** Where an administrative organ in charge of telecommunications or other relevant competent authorities and their personnel, neglect of duties, abuses their power, practise irregularity and favouritism or fail to exercise supervision and administration over the internet-based information services, thereby resulting in serious consequences, they shall, where a crime is constituted, be investigated for criminal liability; where a crime is not committed, the person directly in charge and other direct liable persons shall be demoted, removed from office or dismissed in accordance with the law. 60 Article 26 Those who engage in internet-based information services prior to the promulgation of these Measures shall perform relevant procedures retrospectively within sixty (60) days of the promulgation of these Measures in accordance with the relevant provisions of these Measures.

**Article 27.** These Measures shall come into force as of the date of promulgation. 2024 PAGE/NUMPAGES PAGE/NUMPAGES