The top cyber authority in China has recently unveiled a draft bill that compels platforms to expose their user identity and track down instances of AI harassment before it goes viral. The draft of the Anti-Cyber Violence Law was published by the Cyberspace Administration of China on July 29, 2026, and will be under public consultation till August 28.
The law will cover what China refers to as “cyberviolence,” which means targeted or systematic cyber attacks on someone’s reputation, privacy, or any other type of personal data using insults, rumors, threats, or even content generated via AI, such as deepfakes and voice manipulation. It requires all platforms to validate the identity of its users before publishing any posts or sending an instant message, and set up mechanisms to detect instances of AI harassment, remove them, document it and report major cases to relevant authorities.
Violations could cost providers up to 10 million yuan about $1.5 million plus the possible shutdown of websites or apps and the loss of business licenses. The rules would apply inside China and to overseas individuals or groups whose online activity targets Chinese users.
Reuters reported the core requirements directly from the draft: identity checks, AI-content tracing, content removal, and the steep penalties. Chinese state media and outlets such as China Daily and Global Times have echoed the same provisions, describing the 60-article text as the country’s first comprehensive cyberbullying statute.
The move fits a wider pattern. China already requires real-name registration for many online services and has issued rules on generative AI and deep-synthesis content. Officials say generative tools make harassment faster, more realistic, and harder to stop with older moderation systems. Supporters argue the draft finally gives victims practical tools one-click blocking, evidence preservation, and clearer paths to court orders while pushing platforms to act before pile-ons escalate.
Outside China, critics note that the same set of tools leads to increased surveillance. Real-name requirements and expanded monitoring obligations limit user anonymity and allow the government to have a better map of the sources behind particular statements made online. Extraterritoriality provisions also pose the issue of what kind of pressure Beijing may apply to foreign service providers or speakers. International human rights organizations have already expressed concerns regarding previous laws regulating cyberspace in China.
From the perspective of the readers based in the US and Europe, the draft is one more piece in the ongoing discussion. Democratic countries are struggling with issues such as deepfakes, manipulation of elections through artificial intelligence, and increased harassment. The proposed Chinese legal framework is more directive: first, identify individuals, then conduct an active search, then report up, and be ready for high penalties in case of violation of obligations.
