Cyberspace Administration (CAC) issued a new set of regulations on internet news services, effective 1 June 2017.
In line with the Cybersecurity Law, the rules stipulate
- an internet news outlet must be based in China
- the main person in charge and chief editor must be Chinese nationals
- joint ventures or foreign-invested companies are banned from entry
- internet news outlets must pass CAC security review prior to partnership with joint ventures or foreign-invested companies
- private investment must not enter upstream news production, and can only operate in news distribution and commentary
- only state-owned news agencies can conduct news production online
On licences, they specify
- websites publishing news and social media platforms engaging in news commentary all fall under the 'internet news service' category, and therefore must apply for licences
- licences are issued by CAC provincial internet regulators, renewable every three years
- internet news outlets must not go beyond the scope of content dictated in their licences
In addition
- internet news outlets must submit staff and client profiles to CAC or its provincial offices
- introduction of news commentary programs or anything that might 'mobilise society' must pass CAC security review