Draft law unveiled to combat cyberbullying

A newly released draft law on combating cyberbullying has been praised by experts as a people-centered initiative that would establish a collaborative governance framework, uniting all sectors of society to effectively curb and prevent online abuse.

The 60-article draft was published on Wednesday by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the nation's top internet regulator, for public consultation, which will last until Aug 28. If enacted, it would become China's first dedicated law specifically targeting online bullying, providing robust legal safeguards for building a comprehensive governance system, experts said.

The draft defines cyberbullying as concentrated or sustained online acts that infringe on lawful rights — including reputation, honor, privacy, portrait rights and personal information — through insults, rumors, hate speech, divisive content, threats, discriminatory remarks, unlawful disclosure of personal data and persistent online intimidation or harassment.

Liu Yanhong, vice-president of China University of Political Science and Law, said cyberbullying not only infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations, but also disrupts online order, breeds toxicity in cyberspace and gives rise to widespread social risks.

"It has severely eroded public trust in online safety and become a deeply entrenched ill of the digital world," Liu said, emphasizing that the draft law directly addresses public concerns and embodies a people-first approach to cyberspace governance.

Wang Zhiqin, deputy head of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, said the legislation will close institutional gaps in tackling online abuse and steer cyberspace governance toward a more systematic, law-based and sustainable path.

As the internet becomes deeply woven into every aspect of work and daily life, the online ecosystem is being reshaped. Yet it has also become a breeding ground for rampant cyberbullying, including doxing (publicly identifying or publishing private information about someone, especially for the purpose of punishment or revenge), smear campaigns and traffic-driven manipulation. Such misconduct harms internet users and poses a threat to national security and public interests.

Several high-profile cases have drawn widespread attention to the issue in recent years. In April, a diving enthusiast in Guangdong province was given 10 days of administrative detention and fined for repeatedly cyberbullying Olympic champion Quan Hongchan.

In 2023, the death of Zheng Linghua, who had been subjected to online abuse for dyeing her hair pink, sparked public outrage. She became a target after posting on social media a photo of herself proudly showing her postgraduate admission letter to her grandfather in his hospital bed. Trolls attacked her for her pink hair and made disparaging remarks, while others reposted the photo and fabricated rumors that it depicted an elderly man married to a young woman. The case prompted many people, including national lawmakers and political advisers, to call for legislation to remedy cyber abuse.

According to the draft, internet service providers would be required to offer users tools to block strangers and have the authority to restrict or close accounts that are found to be spreading bullying content. Cyberspace regulators, together with departments responsible for education, public security, telecommunications, civil affairs, culture and tourism, health and broadcasting, would be tasked with building a governance framework that adopts a tiered approach to handling cyberbullying.

The draft also prohibits any organization or individual from providing technical support — such as internet access, server hosting, data storage or communications transmission — if they know that cyberbullying activities are being conducted.

In addition to establishing a coordinated governance mechanism, the draft would require platforms to provide users with quick on-screen buttons to record suspected bullying content, with enhanced protection for children, the elderly and people with disabilities. It also urges judicial authorities to inform victims and their families of their right to apply for legal assistance and clarifies that psychological counseling and legal support from social organizations are available.

Cyberbullying poses a common governance challenge worldwide, with countries including the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia having introduced laws to tackle online abuse. Wang said China's draft follows this global trend by establishing a multistakeholder collaborative governance framework.

"This approach with Chinese experience will enrich global digital governance rules and advance the vision of building a community with a shared future in cyberspace," she added.