Chongqing police to punish those skirting China’s Great Firewall
Security authorities update rules that target individuals and companies seeking to get around censors, with warning of fines
Security authorities in the Chinese city of Chongqing have expanded regulations that govern web access, in a bid to plug holes in the Great Firewall that separates mainlanders from the global internet.
The updated regulations, issued by the city’s public security bureau, provide a detailed manual for police to punish minor offences – namely activities not serious enough to warrant criminal charges – relating to internet connections.
They ban individuals and organisations from establishing or using channels to connect to international networks, and target businesses that help users to connect to such services.
The rules came into effect in July 2016 but the details were published on the government’s website only on Monday.
Compared to regulations released in 2011, the updated ones are more specific, showing the authority’s growing sophistication in policing the internet.
Anyone who violates the rules will be ordered to disconnect from the internet and receive a warning. Anyone who uses such channels to make a profit of more than 5,000 yuan (HK$5,655) will be fined 5,000 to 15,000 yuan. Any ill-gotten gains will also be seized.