Are VPNs Actually Illegal to Just Use? Man Arrested For。。。

Source: OT-Team(G), 赣州蓉江新区公安

In August, police in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, reported a case involving a man who was summoned for using software to bypass China's internet restrictions and access overseas websites.

According to the Cybersecurity Division of the Rongjiang New District Public Security Bureau, officers discovered that a local resident, surnamed Zeng, had used circumvention tools to connect to foreign networks, where he viewed pornographic websites and accessed overseas news content. He was subsequently summoned to the bureau for questioning.

Investigations revealed that since 2021, Zeng had repeatedly used his mobile phone and laptop to download and operate "wall-climbing" software, establishing illegal channels to connect internationally. He was found to have frequently visited pornographic sites, used foreign platforms such as Telegram and Twitter, and engaged in online gaming on overseas servers—activities classified as unlawful under Chinese regulations.

Citing Articles 6 and 14 of the Provisional Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Management of International Networking of Computer Information Networks, police issued Zeng an official warning and imposed a fine.

Are VPN's or "Wall Climbing" Legal? What If You Just Use It?

No matter what the purpose is, whether it is to gain knowledge, to consult information, or even to browse nothing, as long as it is "wall-climbing", it is illegal.

Article 6 of the Provisional Regulations on the Administration of International Networking of Computer Information Networks of the People's Republic of China: Direct international networking of computer information networks must use the international entrance and exit channels provided by the National Public telecommunications Network of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. No unit or individual is allowed to establish or use other channels for international networking without permission.

Article 14 of the Provisional Regulations on the Administration of International Networking of Computer Information Networks of the People's Republic of China:those who violate the provisions of Article 6, 8 and 10 of these regulations shall be ordered to stop networking by the public security organ, given a warning, and may be fined less than 15,000 yuan; If there are any illegal gains, the illegal gains shall be confiscated.

In other words, it doesn't matter if you're just simply using a VPN for personal use, it is illegal.