WeChat has recently standardized its rules in an effort to protect the data and personal information of its users.
According to requirements stated within national laws, as well as the provisions of the WeChat Service Agreement, WeChat personal accounts that publish, display or spread any kind of information about “illegal and contraband goods”, shall face different grades of punishments depending on the severity of the violation:
1. For account users that post content which violates these rules, the published content will be deleted and the users moments will be blocked.
2. For account users that violate laws, WeChat will give one warning, or disable certain functions for that user. WeChat may also permanently close that account, depending on the severity of the violation.
3. For WeChat groups that violate laws, WeChat may permanently close that group, depending on the severity of the violation.
4. For illegal links, they will be blocked and announced to the public.
Since January 2019, WeChat has verified and dealt with many user accounts that have violated these rules.
- More than 2,800 WeChat user accounts involved in selling “illegal and contraband goods” have been dealt with.
- More than 1,200 WeChat groups involved in selling “illegal and contraband goods” have been dealt with.
- More than 900 links involved in selling “illegal and contraband goods” have been blocked.
Example of “illegal and contraband goods” information.
WeChat personal accounts are not allowed to publish, display or spread any kind of information relating to “illegal and contraband goods”, including but not limited to the following:
Examples of WeChat Accounts that were publicly criticized.
We’re not going to translate the whole list for you, but it doesn’t take a genius to work out what “Hardman ** meeting room: was selling. 
WeChat Security Center reminder
Users who sell “illegal and contraband goods” on the internet will be punished by the relevant provisions of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, and the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Punishments in Public Order and Security Administration. It is illegal for users to post or sell “illegal and contraband goods” through their personal account, WeChat groups or Moments. Helping to promote the illegal distribution of these products on WeChat will result in penalties for both parties.
Previously, WeChat announced it’s banned more than 40,000 public accounts since the start of this year – and it’s only March. Among them were the usual suspects: vulgar and harmful content, scams, and frauds. China is known for its tough stance towards undesirable content, WeChat hopes their users cherish their WeChat accounts, and abide by these rules.