Do not share unverified messages about disasters, epidemics, or police incidents in groups; do not photoshop images or use AI to generate fake scene pictures.

1. Do not share unverified messages about disasters, epidemics, or police incidents in groups; do not photoshop images or use AI to generate fake scene pictures.

Cost: No cost involved. Simply check whether the message is an official announcement before sharing. If you’re unsure, don’t share it, and avoid editing images or adding phrases like “allegedly.” The real challenge is resisting the urge to be the first person to spread the news.

In plain terms: If you know a message about a disaster, epidemic, or police incident is false yet still share it, you’ll face penalties just as severe as if you had fabricated it yourself. Even if you didn’t create the content, you could be detained for 5 to 10 days and fined up to 1,000 yuan. Intentionally disrupting social order can land you in prison for up to 3 years, while causing serious consequences may result in a sentence of 3 to 7 years. Any photoshopped images or AI-generated fake scene pictures are treated as self-created content as well.

Benefit: Those who deliberately spread rumors or make false reports about disasters, epidemics, or police incidents to disrupt public order can be detained for 5 to 10 days and fined up to 1,000 yuan. For less serious cases, the penalty is detention for under 5 days or a fine under 1,000 yuan. Creating and posting fake reports about such incidents online also carries a maximum 3-year prison term, even if you know the content is untrue. This applies only when the actions cause significant disruption to social order, as defined by law. If serious consequences arise, the sentence rises to 3 to 7 years nationwide.

Evidence grade: A

Sources: National People's Congress Standing Committee (2025). Public Security Administration Punishment Law (Revised in 2025, Article 29). <https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml>; National People's Congress Standing Committee (2015). Criminal Law Amendment (9) (Article 32, Paragraph 2 of Article 291-1 of the Criminal Law). <https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180205_364562.shtml>; National People’s Congress (2020). Criminal Law (Amended in accordance with the Criminal Law Amendment (Eleven), Article 291-1). <https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html> (Reprinted by Beijing Municipal Public Security and Transportation Bureau)

Notes: Sharing known false content carries the same legal penalties as creating it yourself; claiming “I just shared it” offers no exemption. Photoshopped images and AI-generated fake scene pictures are also considered self-created content. In 2025, China’s Ministry of Public Security released multiple batches of typical cases involving online rumors about disasters and emergencies. At the time of writing, the ministry’s website was inaccessible, so no specific examples were cited.