China Releases Draft Anti-Cyberbullying Law for Public Consultation

On July 29, 2026, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released a draft of the "Anti-Cyberbullying Law of the People's Republic of China" for public comment through August 28, 2026. Drafted jointly with relevant government departments, the proposed law explicitly defines cyberbullying as continuous or concentrated online actions targeting legal rights such as reputation, privacy, and personal information. The draft establishes a multi-agency oversight structure led by cyberspace and public security authorities and includes provisions targeting overseas actors who engage in online violence directed at entities or individuals within China.

The release of the draft law marks a formal legislative effort to consolidate China's existing regulatory rules into a single dedicated statute targeting online violence. By establishing explicit legal definitions, clear inter-agency duties, and extraterritorial jurisdiction, the proposed framework aims to enhance enforcement tools, standardize platform responsibilities, and create clearer legal boundaries for digital communications.

On July 29, 2026, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), in conjunction with relevant national departments, released a draft of the "Anti-Cyberbullying Law of the People's Republic of China" to solicit public comments. According to the announcement published by the CAC, members of the public can submit feedback via email or post to the CAC Bureau of Cyber Law until August 28, 2026. The proposed legislation is designed to prevent, suppress, and punish acts of online violence, protect the legitimate rights and interests of individuals and organizations, and safeguard national security and social public interest. Article 2 of the draft defines cyberbullying as targeted or continuous activities carried out through online networks that infringe upon legal rights related to reputation, honor, privacy, portrait, and personal data. Specific behaviors enumerated in the text include mass publishing insulting or false information, inciting hatred and division, coercing or discriminating against targets, illegally leaking private personal information, and carrying out sustained online intimidation or harassment. The draft explicitly bans individuals and organizations from utilizing cyberbullying activities for commercial marketing, hype, or unfair competition. Furthermore, it advocates for socialist core values, social public morality, and the cultivation of a healthy digital culture. Regarding jurisdictional scope, the law applies to cyberbullying activities conducted within the territory of the People's Republic of China. In addition, Article 3 provides that overseas organizations or individuals conducting cyberbullying activities targeting entities or individuals inside China will also be subject to legal handling and accountability under the law. Under the institutional framework set out in the draft, the national cyberspace department is charged with coordinating overall national efforts against cyberbullying and supervising implementation. Public security departments at the central and local levels are responsible for investigating and penalizing cyberbullying crimes. Other government bodies—including education, telecommunications, civil affairs, culture and tourism, health, and radio and television authorities—are directed to fulfill regulatory functions within their respective domains, while courts and procuratorates fulfill judicial enforcement roles.