The Chinese government has re-issued a circular to companies and individuals who provide Internet-based news.

The notice re-iterates a law that bans the spreading of any news in China that is against the national security and public interest. The vague law does not specify boundaries for what constitutes "national security" or "public interest".

Online news outlets have had to register with the government for at least the last eight years, but rules governing the outlets' online conduct have tightened in the last eighteen months.

Earlier this year, all non-profit websites in China were also required to register with agencies related to the Ministry of Information Industry so that bureaucrats could better keep tabs on consumer-related complaints.