WeChat Official Accounts Said to Require Licenses to Publish Religious Content

Internet Religious Information Service Licenses were presented to two churches and one temple in Heilongjiang Province on June 8, 2022.
Internet Religious Information Service Licenses were presented to two churches and one temple in Heilongjiang Province on June 8, 2022. (photo: website of )
By John ZhangAugust 18th, 2023

As per the revised Regulations on Religious Affairs and the Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services, it is a requisite for entities disseminating religious information to the public via the internet to possess a valid Internet religious information service license.

The official WeChat account of "Religious Wisdom Cloud" has 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.

It underscored the requirement for entities furnishing religious-related information services to the public through internet-based new media platforms—such as text, images, audio, and video—to acquire the stipulated license.

The license generally maintains a validity period of three years, with the renewal procedure necessitating completion thirty days prior to the license's expiration.

Additionally, the notice mentioned that the applicant entity should be a legally established legal or non-legal entity organization within China. The designated legal representative or the primary responsible individual should be a Chinese citizen permanently residing on the mainland.

- Translated by Abigail Wu

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