China: Adopted amendment to Law on the Protection of Minors including content moderation regulation

On 17 October 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China adopted a revision to the Law on the Protection of Minors. The Law contains a number of provisions in relation to content moderation. Specifically, network service providers, such as operators of user-generated content platforms, are required to take measures to stop online bullying of minors and remove content that could harm the psychological or physical health of minors, including by deleting and blocking such content. Further, media content that could otherwise impact the psychological or physical health of minors requires a conspicuous notice. Where such a notice is not present, network service providers must require the user posting or sharing such content to attach a notice. Finally, network service providers who discover that their services were used for illegal or criminal activity against minors must immediately suspend services to those responsible and notify the authorities. The revised Law enters into effect on 1 June 2021.