China issues regulation on online news service

BEIJING -- Cooperation between Chinese online news service providers and entities with foreign investment should go through a security review, according to a regulation released Tuesday.

The regulation, issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China, requires the online news service providers to abide by the law, promote healthy Internet culture and safeguard national and public interest.

The service providers should put in place a set of information security protocols and measures, such as reviews, checks and emergency responses regarding online news.

There should be an editor-in-chief for all online news service providers and their staff should be qualified, according to the regulation.

It particularly notes the obligations of online news platform operators, whose services would only be available to users who register with their real identities.

In the meantime, platform operators should protect the privacy of users, the regulation says.

The regulation will go into force on June 1.