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Don't forward disaster, epidemic or police-incident messages in group chats when you don't know if they are true, and don't edit photos or use AI to fake a scene

  • High value
  • Evidence A
  • Keeps you free
  • Free
  • Takes minutes
  • Some willpower

In plain words

If you forward a message about a disaster, epidemic or police incident while knowing it is false, you are punished as heavily as if you had made it up. It is the same even if you did not make it up: detention of 5 to 10 days (拘留) and a fine of 1,000 CNY. If you seriously disturb social order, the sentence is up to 3 years, and 3 to 7 years if the consequences are serious. Photoshopped images and AI-made fake scene images both count as making it up yourself.

Cost

Free. Before forwarding, check whether it is an official announcement. If you are not sure, don't forward it, and don't edit the image or add "I heard that." The hard part is holding back the urge to be the first to break the news.

What you get

Deliberately spreading rumors, or falsely reporting a danger, epidemic, disaster or police incident, and disturbing public order, brings detention of 5 to 10 days (拘留). A fine of up to 1,000 CNY can be added. For the lighter tier, it is detention of up to 5 days or a fine of up to 1,000 CNY. Making up a false danger, epidemic, disaster or police incident and spreading it online brings up to 3 years. Deliberately passing it on while knowing it is false falls in the same tier. The precondition is that social order is badly disturbed, and the statute's wording is "seriously disturbing social order." If it causes serious consequences, the sentence is 3 to 7 years (China)

Notes

Forwarding something you know is false and making it up yourself are handled by the police under the same provision. "I only forwarded it" is no excuse. Photoshopped and AI-generated fake scene images count as making it up too. In 2025 the Ministry of Public Security (公安部) published several batches of typical cases of online rumors about disasters and dangers. When this section was written, the Ministry's website would not open, so no specific case is cited.

Evidence grade
A : Specific numbers from meta-analyses, large cohorts or randomized trials; for law and policy, the statute or official text.
Sources
  1. 全国人大常委会 (2025). 治安管理处罚法（2025 年修订，第二十九条）. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml
  2. 全国人大常委会 (2015). 刑法修正案（九）（第三十二条，即刑法第二百九十一条之一第二款）. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180205_364562.shtml
  3. 全国人大 (2020). 刑法（根据刑法修正案（十一）修正，第二百九十一条之一）. https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html（北京市公安交通管理局转载）

Mentioned in

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 9, tip 1. This section describes legal rules, mostly mainland China’s. It is general information, not legal advice; for your own case, talk to a lawyer. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer