Top regulator fights against cyberbullying

Internet service providers should strengthen reviews of livestreaming and short-video platforms to block suspected cyberbullying in a timely manner, according to a draft regulation.

The delay in coping with cyberbullies who cause serious consequences to people's lives and health will cost internet service providers a fine ranging from 100,000 yuan ($13,800) to 200,000 yuan, it said.

The draft regulation on fighting online bullying was formulated by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country's top internet regulator.

It began soliciting public opinions on Friday. People can raise suggestions and share ideas on the document through websites, or postal or email addresses, the administration said, adding that the deadline is Aug 6.

As a step to protect the legitimate rights of people in cyberspace, the draft focuses on the responsibilities and duties of internet operators, requiring them to join the anti-cyberbullying team by taking technical measures and improving inspections of their users.

In addition to highlighting the livestreaming and short-video platforms that have seen a rapidly growing number of netizens, the draft urges internet service providers to set up their own systems, including those for early warning, monitoring and reporting, to deal with online bullying.

"Internet operators need to establish and disclose their users' management rules, which should specify what the liabilities will be for making, copying, posting or spreading information involving cyberbullying," the administration said.

It orders internet operators to regularly post how they are combatting cyberbullying, demanding they respond to public concerns as quickly as they can if they find bullying risks on their platforms.

The regulation clarified that information, including insulting or slandering others, infringing upon others' privacy, or severely affecting others' physical or mental health, can be deemed as cyberbullying. It also calls for offering quick channels and aids for users to block and report such content, especially for underage and senior netizens.

"Internet operators will be harshly punished if they organize or instigate online bullying," it said.

Cyberbullying, a hot global issue, has frequently hit media headlines over the past few years. Tragedies caused by the online misconduct have also gained massive public attention and prompted governments, law professionals and internet enterprises to act to solve the problem.

Last month, China's top judicial authorities — the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate — along with the Ministry of Public Security, also solicited public opinion on a draft guideline against online bullying. The solicitation ended on June 25.

In that draft, those conducting organized bullying, falsifying sex-related topics to damage others' dignity or using technologies, such as deep synthesis, to publish illegal or harmful content in violation of public order, customs, ethics or morals, will be severely punished.

Earlier, a number of national lawmakers and political advisers also provided suggestions on fighting cyberbullying through legislation, noting that it is necessary to formulate a specialized law to make it clear what behaviors could be deemed as online bullying and what duties each department should perform in handling cases.