Top court urges stricter regulation of minors' online behavior

China's top court has reiterated the need for tighter regulation of children's online behavior, emphasizing the prevention of internet-related crimes.

Following the release of three landmark internet-related cases involving minors, the Supreme People's Court has mandated Chinese courts to improve the handling of such cases and implement robust legal measures to create a safer and more orderly online environment for young people.

"Chinese courts should not only crack down on those who infringe upon children's rights in cyberspace but also focus more on regulating the behaviors of young internet users to strengthen the prevention of juvenile offenses," the top court stated.

In one disclosed case, a student surnamed Li got into a conflict with his classmate, identified as Wang. Li posted defamatory comments about Wang on a social media platform accessible to other classmates, causing Wang significant psychological distress and leading him to file a lawsuit against Li and Li's parents, demanding an apology.

After the case hearing, a grassroots court ruled that Li's actions constituted an insult and violated Wang's right to reputation. Given that Li was a minor and the parents had not fulfilled their guardianship responsibilities, the court ordered them to issue a written apology to Wang.

"Minors often have not yet fully developed their mental and emotional maturity, which can affect how they handle conflicts with their peers," the top court explained. "Sometimes, they may respond in ways that are not calm or objective, resorting to venting their emotions through online channels such as class group chats or social media accounts. In severe cases, this behavior can escalate into cyberbullying, which can seriously harm the legal rights and well-being of minors."

The court highlighted the ruling, clarifying that the internet is not beyond the reach of the law. "Minors are subject to legal constraints when expressing themselves online, and if they insult or defame others, it will also constitute an infringement of the right to reputation."

It pointed out that parents, as guardians, have a duty to guide their children in appropriately managing the challenges they face as they mature. "Should a child engage in any infringing behavior, the parents will be held accountable for their actions," it added.

While stressing the regulation of online behaviors, the top court also urged courts nationwide to coordinate with internet platforms to help prevent children from committing crimes.

Another disclosed case involved two teenagers who were sentenced and fined for extorting over 75,000 yuan ($10,538) from others by claiming to be practicing online games between November 2023 and March 2024.

After discovering they learned the criminal methods through harmful content posted on a short video platform, a local court issued a judicial recommendation to the internet operator, requiring it to strengthen content monitoring.

"It's a typical case where the young defendants accessed harmful information through an online platform, ultimately leading to criminal behavior," the top court said. "This highlights weaknesses in some platforms regarding content review, information classification, and protection mechanisms for minors."

The court praised the recommendation sent by the lower court to the short video platform, adding that it is conducive to both preventing juvenile crimes and ensuring the healthy development of the internet industry.