In an environment of continued tightening of online governance across all sectors of
society, the Chinese government announced on Tuesday that it will impose stricter supervision of religious clergy’s online activities. The State Administration for Religious Affairs released the Code of Conduct for Online Behavior of Religious Clergy, which clearly delineates the “red lines” for religious figures’ online behavior, prohibiting them from preaching, livestreaming, fundraising, or engaging in any commercial marketing activities online, unless done on officially approved platforms.
The new regulations comprise 18 articles, covering areas from bans on sensationalist dissemination to opposition to extremist rhetoric, feudal superstition, and cross-border religious exchanges, touching virtually every aspect of religious activity in digital space. Although these regulations were framed as maintaining order online and “correct faith, correct conduct,” analysts point out that they reflect the Chinese government’s intent to incorporate religious expression into a state-led discourse structure firmly.
The “tightening Pocket” of Cyberspace for Religion
In recent years, the Chinese government has steadily expanded control over cyberspace, from the entertainment industry to the education and finance sectors, and now the “long arm” of supervision has expanded to religious groups. This trend is especially evident in the new Code of Conduct.
The document states that clergy may not conduct any form of online religious activity on personal accounts or on unapproved platforms, including but not limited to teaching scripture, praying, livestreaming religious ceremonies, or hosting online courses involving religious connotations such as “retreats” or “healing.” Platforms permitted to host such activities must hold an Internet Religious Information Service License, which can only be applied for through officially recognized religious organizations and institutions.
“This is not a response to isolated religious phenomena but rather a systemic effort to incorporate religious activity into the broader online information management system,” said a Chinese religious policy researcher who requested anonymity. “In the government’s view, religion may not only become an ideological ‘gray zone’ but also use online tools to expand its influence, which is precisely what they are trying to prevent and control.”
Economic Interests and the Dual Vigilance of “traffic-driven Religion”
The new regulations specifically state that clergy “must not use religion online to amass wealth,” prohibiting any form of online fundraising in the name of building religious venues or holding religious activities. This directly addresses the recent frequent occurrence of religious marketing on short-video platforms and livestream channels, such as controversial cases of temples attracting incense donations via livestream, monks selling products, and fundraising for the construction of church buildings.
Additionally, the ban on participating in “tipping,” “commercial performances,” and “entertainment activities” also reflects regulators’ wariness of religious topics being traffic-driven or entertainment-oriented. However, in some cases, “tipping” is a means of encouragement for writing.
This is a curb on religious development. The government fears that clergy may build personal influence on platforms, bypassing the management system of official religious organizations.
Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign clergy are included
For the first time, the Code explicitly covers the online behavior of clergy from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and foreign religious clergy inside China. This signals China’s attempt to extend its regulatory reach over religious expression across borders.
This may have far-reaching implications for religious groups in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, particularly Catholic and Protestant communities.
The Bigger Picture: Where Are the Boundaries of Religious Expression?
By strictly limiting channels of expression, such regulations are also essentially reshaping the ways religion exists in the public sphere, thereby restricting freedom of belief. As social media increasingly becomes an important platform for religious dissemination, such regulations mean that religion will further “disappear” from public view, visible only within state-approved platforms and frameworks.
Observers of religion note that such practices intensify international pressure on China over religious freedom. The Chinese government, however, has consistently emphasized that its religious policies have consistently aimed to “resist religious infiltration and combat extremism,” rather than restrict belief itself.
As the Code states, clergy “should cultivate good online habits and consciously resist harmful online culture.” While this appears to stress individual self-discipline, it in fact reflects a comprehensive regulatory logic that intertwines morality, faith, and online governance.
Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai for ChinaAid
