Interim Rules on the Development and Administration of Instant Messaging Tools and Public Information Services
Issued by the State Internet Information Office (国家互联网信息办公室) on August 7, 2014
Article 1. In order to promote the healthy and orderly development of instant messaging tools as public information services, protect the legal rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and organizations, and safeguard national security and the public interest, these rules are hereby formulated in accordance with laws and regulations including the "Decision of the State Council Standing Committee Regarding Network Security," "Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate Explanation Regarding Certain Issues relating to the Application of Laws to be Used in Criminal Cases Involving Defamation Over Information Networks," "Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services," and "Rules on the Administration of Internet News Information Services":
Article 2. These rules will apply to all those employing instant messaging tools as public information services with in the borders of the People's Republic of China.
As used in these rules, "instant messaging tools" refers to applications which are based on the Internet that provide instant information exchanges to end users. As used in these rules, "public information services" refers to activities whereby public accounts and other forms transmit information to the public over instant messaging tools.
Article 3. The State Internet Information Office shall be responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and direction of the administration of the development of instant messaging tools and public information services. Provincial level Internet information content regulatory agencies shall be responsible for related work in their administrative regions.
Internet industry organizations shall play an active role in strengthening industry self-discipline, promoting the establishment of systems for industry credibility evaluation, and promoting the healthy and orderly development of the Industry.
Article 4. Providers of instant messaging tool services must possess relevant qualifications as provided by laws, regulations, and rules. Providers of instant messaging tool services that engage in public information service activities shall obtain qualification as Internet news services.
Article 5. Providers of instant messaging tool services shall fulfill security administration responsibilities, establish comprehensive project systems, allocate professional personnel appropriate for the scope of their services, safeguard users' information and citizens' personal privacy, voluntarily accept social oversight, and handle public reports of illegal and harmful information in a timely manner.
Article 6. Providers of instant messaging tool services shall require users of instant messaging tool services to undertake registration of accounts after confirming their actual identity information based on the principle of "Back-end real name, front end voluntary."
Users of instant messaging tool services shall, when registering for their accounts, enter into an agreement with the providers of instant messaging tool services whereby they commit to abide by the "seven bottom lines," including laws and regulations, the socialist system, the national interest, the rights and interests of citizens, public order, prevailing social norms, and truthful information.
Article 7. Users of instant messaging tool services who set up public accounts in order to engage in public information services shall be subjected to examination and verification by their provider of instant messaging tool services, and their provider of instant messaging tool services shall register them with a government agency responsible for Internet information content based on their category.
News agencies and news web sites that set up public accounts may publish and republish current events and political news. Any non-news agency that has obtained qualifications as an Internet news information service who sets up a public account may republish current events and political news. All other public accounts are prohibited from publishing or republishing current events and political news without authorization.
Providers of instant messaging tool services shall add markers indicating which public accounts are allowed to publish and republish current events and political news.
Party and government agencies, as well as companies and civic organizations, are encouraged to open public accounts to serve economic and social development and satisfy the demands of the public.
Article 8. Users of instant messaging tool services who engage in public information service activities shall abide by relevant laws and regulations.
If a user of an instant messaging tool service who violates their agreement, the operator of the instant messaging tool service shall adopt measures based on their review of the circumstance including issuing warnings, restricting posts, temporarily suspending updates, or shutting down the account, and shall retain relevant records and carry out their duty to report it to the relevant government agency.
Article 9. The relevant government agency shall handle those whose actions violate these rules in accordance with relevant laws, and regulations.
Article 10. These rules shall be enforced from the date of issuance.
即时通信工具公众信息服务发展管理暂行规定
第一条 为进一步推动即时通信工具公众信息服务健康有序发展，保护公民、法人和其他组织的合法权益，维护国家安全和公共利益，根据《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》、《全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于加强网络信息保护的决定》、《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》、《互联网信息服务管理办法》、《互联网新闻信息服务管理规定》等法律法规，制定本规定。
第二条 在中华人民共和国境内从事即时通信工具公众信息服务，适用本规定。
本规定所称即时通信工具，是指基于互联网面向终端使用者提供即时信息交流服务的应用。本规定所称公众信息服务，是指通过即时通信工具的公众账号及其他形式向公众发布信息的活动。
第三条 国家互联网信息办公室负责统筹协调指导即时通信工具公众信息服务发展管理工作，省级互联网信息内容主管部门负责本行政区域的相关工作。
互联网行业组织应当积极发挥作用，加强行业自律，推动行业信用评价体系建设，促进行业健康有序发展。
第四条 即时通信工具服务提供者应当取得法律法规规定的相关资质。即时通信工具服务提供者从事公众信息服务活动，应当取得互联网新闻信息服务资质。
第五条 即时通信工具服务提供者应当落实安全管理责任，建立健全各项制度，配备与服务规模相适应的专业人员，保护用户信息及公民个人隐私，自觉接受社会监督，及时处理公众举报的违法和不良信息。
第六条 即时通信工具服务提供者应当按照“后台实名、前台自愿”的原则，要求即时通信工具服务使用者通过真实身份信息认证后注册账号。
即时通信工具服务使用者注册账号时，应当与即时通信工具服务提供者签订协议，承诺遵守法律法规、社会主义制度、国家利益、公民合法权益、公共秩序、社会道德风尚和信息真实性等“七条底线”。
第七条 即时通信工具服务使用者为从事公众信息服务活动开设公众账号，应当经即时通信工具服务提供者审核，由即时通信工具服务提供者向互联网信息内容主管部门分类备案。
新闻单位、新闻网站开设的公众账号可以发布、转载时政类新闻，取得互联网新闻信息服务资质的非新闻单位开设的公众账号可以转载时政类新闻。其他公众账号未经批准不得发布、转载时政类新闻。
即时通信工具服务提供者应当对可以发布或转载时政类新闻的公众账号加注标识。
鼓励各级党政机关、企事业单位和各人民团体开设公众账号，服务经济社会发展，满足公众需求。
第八条 即时通信工具服务使用者从事公众信息服务活动，应当遵守相关法律法规。
对违反协议约定的即时通信工具服务使用者，即时通信工具服务提供者应当视情节采取警示、限制发布、暂停更新直至关闭账号等措施，并保存有关记录，履行向有关主管部门报告义务。
第九条 对违反本规定的行为，由有关部门依照相关法律法规处理。
第十条 本规定自公布之日起施行。
Issued by the State Internet Information Office (国家互联网信息办公室) on August 7, 2014
Article 1. In order to promote the healthy and orderly development of instant messaging tools as public information services, protect the legal rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and organizations, and safeguard national security and the public interest, these rules are hereby formulated in accordance with laws and regulations including the "Decision of the State Council Standing Committee Regarding Network Security," "Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate Explanation Regarding Certain Issues relating to the Application of Laws to be Used in Criminal Cases Involving Defamation Over Information Networks," "Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services," and "Rules on the Administration of Internet News Information Services":
Article 2. These rules will apply to all those employing instant messaging tools as public information services with in the borders of the People's Republic of China.
As used in these rules, "instant messaging tools" refers to applications which are based on the Internet that provide instant information exchanges to end users. As used in these rules, "public information services" refers to activities whereby public accounts and other forms transmit information to the public over instant messaging tools.
Article 3. The State Internet Information Office shall be responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and direction of the administration of the development of instant messaging tools and public information services. Provincial level Internet information content regulatory agencies shall be responsible for related work in their administrative regions.
Internet industry organizations shall play an active role in strengthening industry self-discipline, promoting the establishment of systems for industry credibility evaluation, and promoting the healthy and orderly development of the Industry.
Article 4. Providers of instant messaging tool services must possess relevant qualifications as provided by laws, regulations, and rules. Providers of instant messaging tool services that engage in public information service activities shall obtain qualification as Internet news services.
Article 5. Providers of instant messaging tool services shall fulfill security administration responsibilities, establish comprehensive project systems, allocate professional personnel appropriate for the scope of their services, safeguard users' information and citizens' personal privacy, voluntarily accept social oversight, and handle public reports of illegal and harmful information in a timely manner.
Article 6. Providers of instant messaging tool services shall require users of instant messaging tool services to undertake registration of accounts after confirming their actual identity information based on the principle of "Back-end real name, front end voluntary."
Users of instant messaging tool services shall, when registering for their accounts, enter into an agreement with the providers of instant messaging tool services whereby they commit to abide by the "seven bottom lines," including laws and regulations, the socialist system, the national interest, the rights and interests of citizens, public order, prevailing social norms, and truthful information.
Article 7. Users of instant messaging tool services who set up public accounts in order to engage in public information services shall be subjected to examination and verification by their provider of instant messaging tool services, and their provider of instant messaging tool services shall register them with a government agency responsible for Internet information content based on their category.
News agencies and news web sites that set up public accounts may publish and republish current events and political news. Any non-news agency that has obtained qualifications as an Internet news information service who sets up a public account may republish current events and political news. All other public accounts are prohibited from publishing or republishing current events and political news without authorization.
Providers of instant messaging tool services shall add markers indicating which public accounts are allowed to publish and republish current events and political news.
Party and government agencies, as well as companies and civic organizations, are encouraged to open public accounts to serve economic and social development and satisfy the demands of the public.
Article 8. Users of instant messaging tool services who engage in public information service activities shall abide by relevant laws and regulations.
If a user of an instant messaging tool service who violates their agreement, the operator of the instant messaging tool service shall adopt measures based on their review of the circumstance including issuing warnings, restricting posts, temporarily suspending updates, or shutting down the account, and shall retain relevant records and carry out their duty to report it to the relevant government agency.
Article 9. The relevant government agency shall handle those whose actions violate these rules in accordance with relevant laws, and regulations.
Article 10. These rules shall be enforced from the date of issuance.
即时通信工具公众信息服务发展管理暂行规定
第一条 为进一步推动即时通信工具公众信息服务健康有序发展，保护公民、法人和其他组织的合法权益，维护国家安全和公共利益，根据《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》、《全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于加强网络信息保护的决定》、《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》、《互联网信息服务管理办法》、《互联网新闻信息服务管理规定》等法律法规，制定本规定。
第二条 在中华人民共和国境内从事即时通信工具公众信息服务，适用本规定。
本规定所称即时通信工具，是指基于互联网面向终端使用者提供即时信息交流服务的应用。本规定所称公众信息服务，是指通过即时通信工具的公众账号及其他形式向公众发布信息的活动。
第三条 国家互联网信息办公室负责统筹协调指导即时通信工具公众信息服务发展管理工作，省级互联网信息内容主管部门负责本行政区域的相关工作。
互联网行业组织应当积极发挥作用，加强行业自律，推动行业信用评价体系建设，促进行业健康有序发展。
第四条 即时通信工具服务提供者应当取得法律法规规定的相关资质。即时通信工具服务提供者从事公众信息服务活动，应当取得互联网新闻信息服务资质。
第五条 即时通信工具服务提供者应当落实安全管理责任，建立健全各项制度，配备与服务规模相适应的专业人员，保护用户信息及公民个人隐私，自觉接受社会监督，及时处理公众举报的违法和不良信息。
第六条 即时通信工具服务提供者应当按照“后台实名、前台自愿”的原则，要求即时通信工具服务使用者通过真实身份信息认证后注册账号。
即时通信工具服务使用者注册账号时，应当与即时通信工具服务提供者签订协议，承诺遵守法律法规、社会主义制度、国家利益、公民合法权益、公共秩序、社会道德风尚和信息真实性等“七条底线”。
第七条 即时通信工具服务使用者为从事公众信息服务活动开设公众账号，应当经即时通信工具服务提供者审核，由即时通信工具服务提供者向互联网信息内容主管部门分类备案。
新闻单位、新闻网站开设的公众账号可以发布、转载时政类新闻，取得互联网新闻信息服务资质的非新闻单位开设的公众账号可以转载时政类新闻。其他公众账号未经批准不得发布、转载时政类新闻。
即时通信工具服务提供者应当对可以发布或转载时政类新闻的公众账号加注标识。
鼓励各级党政机关、企事业单位和各人民团体开设公众账号，服务经济社会发展，满足公众需求。
第八条 即时通信工具服务使用者从事公众信息服务活动，应当遵守相关法律法规。
对违反协议约定的即时通信工具服务使用者，即时通信工具服务提供者应当视情节采取警示、限制发布、暂停更新直至关闭账号等措施，并保存有关记录，履行向有关主管部门报告义务。
第九条 对违反本规定的行为，由有关部门依照相关法律法规处理。
第十条 本规定自公布之日起施行。
