BEIJING: Chinese authorities have drafted sweeping new regulations that would severely restrict religious content online, including images or even descriptions of religious activities from praying and chanting to burning incense. The new rules would only allow members of officially licensed organizations to post certain kinds of religious content, according to a draft document published online Monday by the bureau of religious affairs. Individuals would be forbidden from posting photos, videos and even text related to religious activities, or sharing links related to preaching. The regulations are intended to promote “social stability” and stop religious fraud, cults and appeals to “extremism,” the document said. Many of them were detained for posting “extremist” religious content—everything from Islamic State group videos to holiday greetings—on social media.

Source: Manila Times September 11, 2018 16:18 UTC