China: Adopted amendment to Law on the Protection of Minors including service access restrictions

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 imposing service access restrictions. Specifically, network service providers, such as operators of user-generated content platforms, online games, and streaming services, are required to provide functions that allow usage time and spending to be controlled. Online gaming service providers may not provide online gaming services to minors between the hours of 10 pm and 8 am. Streaming service providers are not permitted to allow registration of minors under 16 and, for minors over 16, must obtain parental consent and carry out identity verification.The revised Law enters into effect on 1 June 2021.