Is it illegal to publish false information?

Publishing false information is divided into illegal acts and illegal and criminal acts.

The act of spreading false information is divided into two situations:

1, if the circumstances are minor and illegal but do not constitute a crime, it shall be punished in accordance with the Law on Public Security Administration Punishment;

2. Those who seriously disturb social order and constitute a crime shall be punished for fabricating and intentionally spreading false terrorist information in accordance with the Criminal Law of People's Republic of China (PRC).

According to the provisions of the Law on Public Security Administration Punishment, anyone who spreads rumors, falsely reports dangerous situations, epidemic situations, police situations or intentionally disturbs public order by other means shall be detained for more than 5 days 10 days, and may also be fined up to 500 yuan; If the circumstances are minor, they shall be detained for less than 5 days or fined for less than 500 yuan.

Common crimes of spreading online rumors are:

1. Use information network to commit crimes such as libel, affray, extortion and illegal business operation. Using information networks to commit crimes such as slander, affray, extortion and illegal business operations. It is stipulated that providing funds, places, technical support, etc. to those who knowingly use the information network to commit criminal acts such as defamation and affray should be treated as joint crimes;

2. Being investigated for criminal responsibility for providing funds, places and technical support. It must be based on the premise that they know that others use information networks to commit crimes such as defamation, trouble-making, extortion and illegal business operations.

To sum up, the act of spreading false information, which does not constitute a crime, is an ordinary illegal act, and can be detained for more than five days and less than ten days, and can also be fined up to 500 yuan. If the act constitutes a crime, the perpetrator should bear the corresponding criminal responsibility.

Legal basis:

Twenty-fifth "People's Republic of China (PRC) public security management punishment law"

Anyone who commits one of the following acts shall be detained for more than five days and less than ten days, and may be fined not more than five hundred yuan; If the circumstances are relatively minor, they shall be detained for not more than five days or fined not more than five hundred yuan:

(a) spreading rumors, lying about dangerous situations, epidemic situations, police situations or deliberately disturbing public order by other means;

(2) throwing false explosive, toxic, radioactive and corrosive substances or infectious disease pathogens to disturb public order;

(3) Threatening to set fire, explode or throw dangerous substances to disturb public order.