Provisions on the Management of Internet Search Services

Title: Provisions on the Management of Internet Search Services 
Promulgating Entities: Cybersecurity Administration
Reference number: 
Promulgation Date: 2016-6-25
Expiration date: 
Source of text: http://www.legaldaily.com.cn/xwzx/content/2016-06/25/content_6687978.htm?node=53628

Article 1: These Provisions are formulated on the basis of the “Standing Committee of the National of the National People's Congress's Decision on Strengthening Protections for Online Information” and the "State Council's Notification of Authorization of the State Internet Information Office to be Responsible for Efforts to Management Internet Information Content”, so as to standardize Internet search services, stimulate the healthy and orderly development of Internet search services, protect the lawful rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and other organizations, safeguard national security and the public interest.

Article 2: These Provisions apply to engagement in Internet search services within the mainland territory of the People's Republic of China.

"Internet Search Services" as used in these Provisions refers to services using computer technology to collect and process all kinds of information from the internet and provide users with indexing.

Article 3: The State Internet Information Office is responsible for Internet search service supervision, management and law enforcement efforts nationwide. Local internet information offices are responsible for Internet search service supervision, management and law enforcement efforts within that administrative region and on the basis of their duties.

Article 4: Internet search service industry organizations shall establish and complete systems for industry self-discipline and industry norms, shall guide Internet search service providers to establish and complete industry regulation, shall urge Internet search service providers to provide services and accept social supervision in accordance with law, and shall raise the professional caliber of personnel engaged in Internet search services.

Article 5: Internet search service providers shall acquire the relevant credentials as provided for by laws and regulations.

Article 6: Internet search service providers shall implement entity liability; shall establish and complete information security management systems such as for information verification systems, real-time public information inspection systems, emergency response systems and systems for protection of personal information; and shall possess safe and controllable precautionary measures; so as to provide necessary technical support to relevant departments in the performance of their duties.

Article 7: Internet search service providers must not use methods such as links, summaries, snapshots, associated terms, related searches, or recommendations to provide content that contains information prohibited by laws or regulations.

Article 8: Internet search service providers discovering search results during provision of search services, which clearly contain information, websites, or applications prohibited by laws or regulations, shall stop providing the relevant search results, save the relevant records, and promptly report to the state or local internet information office.

Article 9: Internet search service providers and their employees must not use methods such as disconnecting relevant links or providing search results with fake information to obtain improper benefits.

Article 10: Internet search service providers shall provide objective, just, and authoritative search results, and must not harm the national interest, the public interest, or the lawful rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and other organizations.

Article 11: Internet search service providers providing paid search information services shall check clients' credentials in accordance with law, clarify the maximum percentage of paid search information per page, conspicuously distinguish between natural search results and paid search information, and place a conspicuous marker next to each paid search item.

Internet search service providers providing commercial advertisement information services shall obey the relevant laws and regulations.

Article 12: Internet search service providers shall establish and complete systems for public complaints, reports and protection of users' rights and interests, placing the method for complaints and reporting in a conspicuous position, actively accept public supervision, promptly handle public reports and complaints and bear responsibility for compensating any harms to users interests in accordance with law.

Article 13: These Provisions take effect on August 1, 2016.