未成年人保护法 (Law on the Protection of Minors), Chapter 5 Network Protection, Articles 74-75
In force
未成年人保护法 (Law on the Protection of Minors), 2020 Revision, adopted 2020-10-17 by the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, Arts. 74-75
Effective 2021-06-01 · Applies to private
Requires providers of online games, livestreaming, audio-video and social networking services to build in time management, permission management and spending management functions for minor users, and requires online game providers to use a unified national electronic identity system to verify that game accounts are registered under the user's real identity, with no game service offered to minors between 22:00 and 08:00.
| Age threshold | 18 |
| Verification methods | gov id, digital id |
| Enforcement body | Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and sectoral regulators, including the National Press and Publication Administration for games |
| Private suits | no |
Source: 未成年人保护法 (Law on the Protection of Minors), 2020 Revision, adopted 2020-10-17 by the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress, Arts. 74-75
国家新闻出版署《关于进一步严格管理 切实防止未成年人沉迷网络游戏的通知》(NPPA Notice on Further Strict Management to Effectively Prevent Minors from Becoming Addicted to Online Games)
In force
国新出发〔2021〕14号 (Guo Xin Chu Fa [2021] No. 14)
Effective 2021-09-01 · Applies to private
Limits all online game service providers to offering minors no more than one hour of game time per day, only between 20:00 and 21:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, with no game service to minors at any other time. Requires every online game account to be registered under a real identity linked to the National Press and Publication Administration's national anti-addiction real-name verification system, and bans guest-mode access.
| Age threshold | 18 |
| Verification methods | gov id, digital id |
| Penalties | Regulatory sanctions against noncompliant game operators, including rectification orders and removal from the anti-addiction real-name verification system |
| Enforcement body | National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) |
| Private suits | no |
Source: 国新出发〔2021〕14号 (Guo Xin Chu Fa [2021] No. 14)
未成年人网络保护条例 (Regulations on the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace), State Council Order No. 766
In force
国务院令第766号, 未成年人网络保护条例 (State Council Order No. 766, Regulations on the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace), Chapter 5, Arts. 39-49
Effective 2024-01-01 · Applies to private
Implementing regulation requiring game, livestream, audio-video and social platforms to provide a minor mode limiting usage time, functions and content per national standards, to reasonably cap single and cumulative spending by minors by age band, to prevent traffic-driven inducements such as fan voting campaigns aimed at minors, and to display age-appropriate ratings prominently at download and login.
| Age threshold | 18 |
| Verification methods | self declaration, device signal |
| Penalties | Administrative penalties including rectification orders, warnings, fines and suspension of services for noncompliant platforms |
| Enforcement body | Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and other sectoral departments covering publishing, education, culture and broadcasting |
| Private suits | no |
Source: 国务院令第766号, 未成年人网络保护条例 (State Council Order No. 766, Regulations on the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace), Chapter 5, Arts. 39-49
未成年人保护法 (Law on the Protection of Minors), Article 76, livestreaming anchor account age floor
In force
未成年人保护法 (Law on the Protection of Minors), 2020 Revision, Art. 76
Effective 2021-06-01 · Applies to private
Bars livestreaming service providers from issuing a livestreaming anchor (content creator) account to anyone under 16, and requires providers to obtain a parent or guardian's consent and verify identity before issuing an anchor account to a 16 or 17 year old.
| Age threshold | 16 |
| Verification methods | gov id, parental consent |
| Enforcement body | Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) |
| Private suits | no |
Source: 未成年人保护法 (Law on the Protection of Minors), 2020 Revision, Art. 76