CAC Issues Draft Regulations For Internet News Services

On January 8, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) published a set of draft administrative measures aimed at further regulating the Internet news sector. The regulations, officially called the Administrative Provisions on Internet News Information Services (Draft for Comments), significantly tighten the administrative framework surrounding the Internet news business, making it difficult for foreign companies to offer such services in China.

Clause 8 of the new regulations, for example, stipulates that all companies seeking to provide Internet news services in China must have a Chinese national serving in the positions of chief representative and editor. 

With the aim of "protecting national security and the public interest," the regulations explicitly prohibit wholly foreign-owned enterprises from operating Internet news services, in addition to barring Sino-foreign equity joint ventures and Sino-foreign cooperative joint ventures in the sector. 

The deadline for submitting comments to CAC is February 15, 2016.