This “Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate Regarding Certain Questions About Applicable Law When Dealing With Criminal Cases Whereby Information Networks are Utilized to Commit Defamation and Other Crimes” was passed at the 1,589th meeting of the Supreme People’s Court Adjudication Committee meeting on September 5, 2013, and the 9th meeting of the 12th of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate Procuratorial Committee on September 2, 2013, it is hereby promulgated, and takes effect on 10 September 2013. It is hereby promulgated and shall be implemented from September 10, 2013.
Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate
September 6, 2013
In order to protect the legal rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations and safeguard social order, in accordance with the “Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China,” the "National People's Congress Standing Committee Decision Regarding Safeguarding Network Security," and other provisions, the following explanations are offered regarding questions of applying the law when dealing criminal cases whereby information networks are utilized to commit offenses such as defamation, provoking quarrels, extortion, or the illegal operation of a business or other criminal cases:
Article 1. If one of the following circumstances exists, it shall be deemed to be “fabricating facts to defame a third party” under Article 246, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Law:
(1) fabricating facts which harm the reputation of third party and disseminating them, or organizing or causing persons to disseminate them, over information networks;
(2) falsifying original information content on information networks relating to a third party involving another person such into facts that harm the reputation of a third party and disseminating them, or organizing or causing persons to disseminate them, over information networks;
where there is clear knowledge that facts harming a third party's reputation are fabricated are disseminated over information networks it shall, where the circumstances are malicious, be considered “fabricating facts to defame third parties."
Article 2. Where information networks are utilized to defame a third party and one of the following circumstances exists, it shall be deemed to be “grave circumstances” under Article 246 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Law:
(1) where the same defamatory information is actually clicked upon or browsed 5,000 times or more, or is reposted 500 times or more;
(2) where it causes severe consequences to the injured party or their relatives such as mental derangement, self-harm, or suicide;
(3) where an individual defames a third party within two years after receiving administrative punishment for defamation;
(4) other serious circumstances.
Article 3. Where information networks are utilized to defame a third party, and one of the following circumstances is exists, it shall be deemed to be “severely jeopardizing social order and national interests” under Article 246 Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law:
(1) triggering a mass incident;
(2) triggering a disturbance of social order;
(3) triggering ethnic or religious conflict;
(4) defaming many people and creating a negative social repercussions;
(5) harming the national image or severely jeopardizing national interests;
(6) creating negative international repercussions;
(7) other circumstances severely jeopardizing social order and national interests.
Article 4. If repeated instances of utilizing information networks to defame a third party within a one year period are not disposed of, and the aggregate number of actual clicks, browsing, or reposts constitutes a crime, convictions shall be made and punishment imposed in accordance with the law.
Article 5. Utilizing information networks to insult or intimidate a third party shall, where circumstances involve malice and the disruption of social order, be subject to conviction and punishment as the crime of provoking quarrels in accordance with the provisions of Article 293 Paragraph I Clause (2) of the Criminal Law.
Disseminating false information that one has fabricated or clearly knows to be fabricated over information networks, or organizing or causing people to disseminate the same on information networks shall, where it leads to a disturbance and creates a severe disruption of social order, be subject to conviction and punishment as the crime of provoking quarrels in accordance with the provisions of Article 293 Paragraph 1 Clause (4) of the Criminal Law.
Article 6. Where the dissemination, deletion, or other method of dealing with online information on information networks causes a third party to be coerced to hand over high-value public or private assets, or where the aforementioned act is repeatedly committed, it shall be subject to conviction and punishment as the crime of extortion in accordance with Article 274 of the Criminal Law.
Article 7. Providing deletion of information services on information networks in exchange for compensation in violation of State provisions and with the intent to seek profit, or providing information dissemination services on information networks in exchange for compensation for information that is known to be false, disrupting marketing order shall, where one of the following circumstances exists, be deemed illegal operation of a business with “severe circumstances” and shall be convicted and punished as illegal operation of a business in accordance with the provisions of Article 225 Clause 4 of the Criminal Law:
(1) for an individual, an illegal operations in an amount greater than or equal to 50,000 yuan, or an unlawful revenue greater than or equal to 20,000 yuan;
(2) for a work unit, an illegal operations in an amount greater than or equal to 150,000 yuan or higher, or an unlawful revenue greater than or equal to 50,000 yuan.
Where the acts provided for in the preceding Paragraph are carried out and the amount is greater than or equal to five times those provided for in the preceding Paragraph, it shall be deemed an “especially serious circumstance” as provided in Article 225 of the Criminal Law.
Article 8. Anyone providing funds, facilities, technology or other assistance to any third party with clear knowledge they are utilizing information networks to carry out defamation, provoking quarrels, operating a business illegally, or other crimes shall be punished as an accomplice.
Article 9. Utilizing information networks to carry out defamation, provoke quarrels, or operate a business illegally shall also constitute the crime of harming commercial reputation and merchandise reputation in accordance with Article 221 of the Criminal Law, the crime of inciting violence to obstruction the implementation of the law as provided in Article 278 of the Criminal Law, and the crime of fabricating and willfully disseminating false terrorist information as provided in Article 291 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Law, and conviction and punishment shall be imposed in accordance with the provision imposing the relatively heavier punishment.
Article 10. As referred to in this Interpretation, information networks shall include computer networks, broadcast television networks, fixed communications networks, mobile communications networks, as well as local area networks that are open to the public, which use computers, televisions, fixed telephone, mobile telephones, and other electronic equipment as terminals.
关于办理利用信息网络实施诽谤等刑事案件适用法律若干问题的解释
《最高人民法院、最高人民检察院关于办理利用信息网络实施诽谤等刑事案件适用法律若干问题的解释》已于2013年9月5日由最高人民法院审判委员会第1589次会议、2013年9月2日由最高人民检察院第十二届检察委员会第9次会议通过，现予公布，自2013年9月10日起施行。
法释〔2013〕21号
为保护公民、法人和其他组织的合法权益，维护社会秩序，根据《中华人民共和国刑法》《全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于维护互联网安全的决定》等规定，对办理利用信息网络实施诽谤、寻衅滋事、敲诈勒索、非法经营等刑事案件适用法律的若干问题解释如下：
第一条 具有下列情形之一的，应当认定为刑法第二百四十六条第一款规定的“捏造事实诽谤他人”：
（一）捏造损害他人名誉的事实，在信息网络上散布，或者组织、指使人员在信息网络上散布的；
（二）将信息网络上涉及他人的原始信息内容篡改为损害他人名誉的事实，在信息网络上散布，或者组织、指使人员在信息网络上散布的；
明知是捏造的损害他人名誉的事实，在信息网络上散布，情节恶劣的，以“捏造事实诽谤他人”论。
第二条 利用信息网络诽谤他人，具有下列情形之一的，应当认定为刑法第二百四十六条第一款规定的“情节严重”：
（一）同一诽谤信息实际被点击、浏览次数达到五千次以上，或者被转发次数达到五百次以上的；
（二）造成被害人或者其近亲属精神失常、自残、自杀等严重后果的；
（三）二年内曾因诽谤受过行政处罚，又诽谤他人的；
（四）其他情节严重的情形。
第三条 利用信息网络诽谤他人，具有下列情形之一的，应当认定为刑法第二百四十六条第二款规定的“严重危害社会秩序和国家利益”：
（一）引发群体性事件的；
（二）引发公共秩序混乱的；
（三）引发民族、宗教冲突的；
（四）诽谤多人，造成恶劣社会影响的；
（五）损害国家形象，严重危害国家利益的；
（六）造成恶劣国际影响的；
（七）其他严重危害社会秩序和国家利益的情形。
第四条 一年内多次实施利用信息网络诽谤他人行为未经处理，诽谤信息实际被点击、浏览、转发次数累计计算构成犯罪的，应当依法定罪处罚。
第五条 利用信息网络辱骂、恐吓他人，情节恶劣，破坏社会秩序的，依照刑法第二百九十三条第一款第（二）项的规定，以寻衅滋事罪定罪处罚。
编造虚假信息，或者明知是编造的虚假信息，在信息网络上散布，或者组织、指使人员在信息网络上散布，起哄闹事，造成公共秩序严重混乱的，依照刑法第二百九十三条第一款第（四）项的规定，以寻衅滋事罪定罪处罚。
第六条 以在信息网络上发布、删除等方式处理网络信息为由，威胁、要挟他人，索取公私财物，数额较大，或者多次实施上述行为的，依照刑法第二百七十四条的规定，以敲诈勒索罪定罪处罚。
第七条 违反国家规定，以营利为目的，通过信息网络有偿提供删除信息服务，或者明知是虚假信息，通过信息网络有偿提供发布信息等服务，扰乱市场秩序，具有下列情形之一的，属于非法经营行为“情节严重”，依照刑法第二百二十五条第（四）项的规定，以非法经营罪定罪处罚：
（一）个人非法经营数额在五万元以上，或者违法所得数额在二万元以上的；
（二）单位非法经营数额在十五万元以上，或者违法所得数额在五万元以上的。
实施前款规定的行为，数额达到前款规定的数额五倍以上的，应当认定为刑法第二百二十五条规定的“情节特别严重”。
第八条 明知他人利用信息网络实施诽谤、寻衅滋事、敲诈勒索、非法经营等犯罪，为其提供资金、场所、技术支持等帮助的，以共同犯罪论处。
第九条 利用信息网络实施诽谤、寻衅滋事、敲诈勒索、非法经营犯罪，同时又构成刑法第二百二十一条规定的损害商业信誉、商品声誉罪，第二百七十八条规定的煽动暴力抗拒法律实施罪，第二百九十一条之一规定的编造、故意传播虚假恐怖信息罪等犯罪的，依照处罚较重的规定定罪处罚。
第十条 本解释所称信息网络，包括以计算机、电视机、固定电话机、移动电话机等电子设备为终端的计算机互联网、广播电视网、固定通信网、移动通信网等信息网络，以及向公众开放的局域网络。
Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate
September 6, 2013
In order to protect the legal rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations and safeguard social order, in accordance with the “Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China,” the "National People's Congress Standing Committee Decision Regarding Safeguarding Network Security," and other provisions, the following explanations are offered regarding questions of applying the law when dealing criminal cases whereby information networks are utilized to commit offenses such as defamation, provoking quarrels, extortion, or the illegal operation of a business or other criminal cases:
Article 1. If one of the following circumstances exists, it shall be deemed to be “fabricating facts to defame a third party” under Article 246, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Law:
(1) fabricating facts which harm the reputation of third party and disseminating them, or organizing or causing persons to disseminate them, over information networks;
(2) falsifying original information content on information networks relating to a third party involving another person such into facts that harm the reputation of a third party and disseminating them, or organizing or causing persons to disseminate them, over information networks;
where there is clear knowledge that facts harming a third party's reputation are fabricated are disseminated over information networks it shall, where the circumstances are malicious, be considered “fabricating facts to defame third parties."
Article 2. Where information networks are utilized to defame a third party and one of the following circumstances exists, it shall be deemed to be “grave circumstances” under Article 246 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Law:
(1) where the same defamatory information is actually clicked upon or browsed 5,000 times or more, or is reposted 500 times or more;
(2) where it causes severe consequences to the injured party or their relatives such as mental derangement, self-harm, or suicide;
(3) where an individual defames a third party within two years after receiving administrative punishment for defamation;
(4) other serious circumstances.
Article 3. Where information networks are utilized to defame a third party, and one of the following circumstances is exists, it shall be deemed to be “severely jeopardizing social order and national interests” under Article 246 Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law:
(1) triggering a mass incident;
(2) triggering a disturbance of social order;
(3) triggering ethnic or religious conflict;
(4) defaming many people and creating a negative social repercussions;
(5) harming the national image or severely jeopardizing national interests;
(6) creating negative international repercussions;
(7) other circumstances severely jeopardizing social order and national interests.
Article 4. If repeated instances of utilizing information networks to defame a third party within a one year period are not disposed of, and the aggregate number of actual clicks, browsing, or reposts constitutes a crime, convictions shall be made and punishment imposed in accordance with the law.
Article 5. Utilizing information networks to insult or intimidate a third party shall, where circumstances involve malice and the disruption of social order, be subject to conviction and punishment as the crime of provoking quarrels in accordance with the provisions of Article 293 Paragraph I Clause (2) of the Criminal Law.
Disseminating false information that one has fabricated or clearly knows to be fabricated over information networks, or organizing or causing people to disseminate the same on information networks shall, where it leads to a disturbance and creates a severe disruption of social order, be subject to conviction and punishment as the crime of provoking quarrels in accordance with the provisions of Article 293 Paragraph 1 Clause (4) of the Criminal Law.
Article 6. Where the dissemination, deletion, or other method of dealing with online information on information networks causes a third party to be coerced to hand over high-value public or private assets, or where the aforementioned act is repeatedly committed, it shall be subject to conviction and punishment as the crime of extortion in accordance with Article 274 of the Criminal Law.
Article 7. Providing deletion of information services on information networks in exchange for compensation in violation of State provisions and with the intent to seek profit, or providing information dissemination services on information networks in exchange for compensation for information that is known to be false, disrupting marketing order shall, where one of the following circumstances exists, be deemed illegal operation of a business with “severe circumstances” and shall be convicted and punished as illegal operation of a business in accordance with the provisions of Article 225 Clause 4 of the Criminal Law:
(1) for an individual, an illegal operations in an amount greater than or equal to 50,000 yuan, or an unlawful revenue greater than or equal to 20,000 yuan;
(2) for a work unit, an illegal operations in an amount greater than or equal to 150,000 yuan or higher, or an unlawful revenue greater than or equal to 50,000 yuan.
Where the acts provided for in the preceding Paragraph are carried out and the amount is greater than or equal to five times those provided for in the preceding Paragraph, it shall be deemed an “especially serious circumstance” as provided in Article 225 of the Criminal Law.
Article 8. Anyone providing funds, facilities, technology or other assistance to any third party with clear knowledge they are utilizing information networks to carry out defamation, provoking quarrels, operating a business illegally, or other crimes shall be punished as an accomplice.
Article 9. Utilizing information networks to carry out defamation, provoke quarrels, or operate a business illegally shall also constitute the crime of harming commercial reputation and merchandise reputation in accordance with Article 221 of the Criminal Law, the crime of inciting violence to obstruction the implementation of the law as provided in Article 278 of the Criminal Law, and the crime of fabricating and willfully disseminating false terrorist information as provided in Article 291 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Law, and conviction and punishment shall be imposed in accordance with the provision imposing the relatively heavier punishment.
Article 10. As referred to in this Interpretation, information networks shall include computer networks, broadcast television networks, fixed communications networks, mobile communications networks, as well as local area networks that are open to the public, which use computers, televisions, fixed telephone, mobile telephones, and other electronic equipment as terminals.
关于办理利用信息网络实施诽谤等刑事案件适用法律若干问题的解释
《最高人民法院、最高人民检察院关于办理利用信息网络实施诽谤等刑事案件适用法律若干问题的解释》已于2013年9月5日由最高人民法院审判委员会第1589次会议、2013年9月2日由最高人民检察院第十二届检察委员会第9次会议通过，现予公布，自2013年9月10日起施行。
法释〔2013〕21号
为保护公民、法人和其他组织的合法权益，维护社会秩序，根据《中华人民共和国刑法》《全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于维护互联网安全的决定》等规定，对办理利用信息网络实施诽谤、寻衅滋事、敲诈勒索、非法经营等刑事案件适用法律的若干问题解释如下：
第一条 具有下列情形之一的，应当认定为刑法第二百四十六条第一款规定的“捏造事实诽谤他人”：
（一）捏造损害他人名誉的事实，在信息网络上散布，或者组织、指使人员在信息网络上散布的；
（二）将信息网络上涉及他人的原始信息内容篡改为损害他人名誉的事实，在信息网络上散布，或者组织、指使人员在信息网络上散布的；
明知是捏造的损害他人名誉的事实，在信息网络上散布，情节恶劣的，以“捏造事实诽谤他人”论。
第二条 利用信息网络诽谤他人，具有下列情形之一的，应当认定为刑法第二百四十六条第一款规定的“情节严重”：
（一）同一诽谤信息实际被点击、浏览次数达到五千次以上，或者被转发次数达到五百次以上的；
（二）造成被害人或者其近亲属精神失常、自残、自杀等严重后果的；
（三）二年内曾因诽谤受过行政处罚，又诽谤他人的；
（四）其他情节严重的情形。
第三条 利用信息网络诽谤他人，具有下列情形之一的，应当认定为刑法第二百四十六条第二款规定的“严重危害社会秩序和国家利益”：
（一）引发群体性事件的；
（二）引发公共秩序混乱的；
（三）引发民族、宗教冲突的；
（四）诽谤多人，造成恶劣社会影响的；
（五）损害国家形象，严重危害国家利益的；
（六）造成恶劣国际影响的；
（七）其他严重危害社会秩序和国家利益的情形。
第四条 一年内多次实施利用信息网络诽谤他人行为未经处理，诽谤信息实际被点击、浏览、转发次数累计计算构成犯罪的，应当依法定罪处罚。
第五条 利用信息网络辱骂、恐吓他人，情节恶劣，破坏社会秩序的，依照刑法第二百九十三条第一款第（二）项的规定，以寻衅滋事罪定罪处罚。
编造虚假信息，或者明知是编造的虚假信息，在信息网络上散布，或者组织、指使人员在信息网络上散布，起哄闹事，造成公共秩序严重混乱的，依照刑法第二百九十三条第一款第（四）项的规定，以寻衅滋事罪定罪处罚。
第六条 以在信息网络上发布、删除等方式处理网络信息为由，威胁、要挟他人，索取公私财物，数额较大，或者多次实施上述行为的，依照刑法第二百七十四条的规定，以敲诈勒索罪定罪处罚。
第七条 违反国家规定，以营利为目的，通过信息网络有偿提供删除信息服务，或者明知是虚假信息，通过信息网络有偿提供发布信息等服务，扰乱市场秩序，具有下列情形之一的，属于非法经营行为“情节严重”，依照刑法第二百二十五条第（四）项的规定，以非法经营罪定罪处罚：
（一）个人非法经营数额在五万元以上，或者违法所得数额在二万元以上的；
（二）单位非法经营数额在十五万元以上，或者违法所得数额在五万元以上的。
实施前款规定的行为，数额达到前款规定的数额五倍以上的，应当认定为刑法第二百二十五条规定的“情节特别严重”。
第八条 明知他人利用信息网络实施诽谤、寻衅滋事、敲诈勒索、非法经营等犯罪，为其提供资金、场所、技术支持等帮助的，以共同犯罪论处。
第九条 利用信息网络实施诽谤、寻衅滋事、敲诈勒索、非法经营犯罪，同时又构成刑法第二百二十一条规定的损害商业信誉、商品声誉罪，第二百七十八条规定的煽动暴力抗拒法律实施罪，第二百九十一条之一规定的编造、故意传播虚假恐怖信息罪等犯罪的，依照处罚较重的规定定罪处罚。
第十条 本解释所称信息网络，包括以计算机、电视机、固定电话机、移动电话机等电子设备为终端的计算机互联网、广播电视网、固定通信网、移动通信网等信息网络，以及向公众开放的局域网络。
