China Drafts First Dedicated Law to Combat Cyberbullying

The Cyberspace Administration of China released a 60-article draft law on July 29, 2026, marking the first dedicated legislation in the country to target cyberbullying. The proposed law defines cyberbullying as sustained online acts, including insults, rumors, hate speech, and doxing, that infringe upon privacy and reputation. It specifically targets harassment and AI-enabled abuse, such as synthetic text and deepfakes.

Under the draft rules, internet service providers must verify real user identities, implement tools to block strangers, and provide one-click protection for victims. Platforms are required to build classifiers to detect AI-generated bullying and report cases involving minors, older adults, or people with disabilities to authorities. Non-compliant providers face penalties including business license revocation, website shutdowns, or fines up to 10 million yuan. Additionally, the legislation mandates that schools integrate anti-cyberbullying material into curricula.

Victims may apply to local courts for orders to stop confirmed abuse if providers fail to intervene, while procuratorates may initiate public interest litigation for harms to national interests. In anticipation of the rules, the platform Zhihu has already moved to curb anonymous accounts. The regulator is collecting public comment on the draft until August 28, 2026.