(China) The Chinese Communist government is leveraging major technology companies to exercise its internet censorship authority. It introduced the latest stringent control measures to restrict religious groups and individuals from posting religious content on social platforms like WeChat public accounts. Religious-related content can only be published if the entity or individual holds an “Internet Religious Information Service License.”
Regulated content online
According to the “Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services,” accounts disseminating religious information to the public through the internet are required to possess a valid “Internet Religious Information Service License.”
Religious Wisdom Cloud
According to China Christian Daily, the official WeChat account of “Religious Wisdom Cloud” issued an announcement containing a screenshot, illustrating the necessity for a specific account to submit the aforementioned license by August 31st. Due to potential disruptions in the account’s regular operation, this submission must also include the display of the license number in the account’s introduction.
The notice also proposed that WeChat Official Accounts lacking this license temporarily abstain from disseminating content related to religion. Any disregard for this might culminate in the suspension of the account and the potential interference with the utilization of technical development interfaces for self-established systems.
License for Religious Content
Entities providing religious-related information services to the public through internet new media platforms, including text, images, audio, and video, are required to obtain the specified permit. The validity period of the license is generally three years, and renewal must be completed within 30 days before expiration.
The announcement also mentions that applying entities should be legal entities or non-legal person organizations established within the territory of China in accordance with the law. Designated legal representatives or the principal responsible person should be a Chinese citizen with permanent residence on the mainland.
Religious Freedom Under Attack
Only organizations registered with the government are eligible for this qualification. This means that only groups belonging to the five authorized religions in China can post religious content online. Moreover, publishers must conduct self-censorship on their religious materials, ensuring they align with the government’s mainstream ideology. In other words, they must conform to socialist values, affirm the current state of the country, and support all the leadership of the Communist Party of China. These ideological requirements act as substitutes for religious beliefs.
~Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid