China to tighten penalties for sharing pornography in private chats
Starting January 1, 2026, China will implement an updated Law on Penalties for Public Order Violations, introducing stricter punishments for distributing obscene content, including in private messaging. This development is significant as the government seeks to strengthen digital space regulation and uphold public moral standards.
Source Weibo
Specifically, forwarding pornographic materials via messengers such as WeChat will be punishable by detention of 10 to 15 days and fines up to 5,000 yuan (approximately $700). Group chat administrators may face criminal charges if they fail to remove such content. The law imposes especially severe penalties for distributing such materials to minors: in Jiangsu province, a man was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for sharing obscene videos with nearly 100 girls aged 11 to 13.
These measures reflect the Chinese authorities’ intent to more strictly regulate online environments and prevent the spread of harmful content, particularly among children. Further steps may include bolstered control over other types of internet offences.
