These Measures provide for more requirements to facilitate the government's efforts to check the identity of those who send and receive e-mails. There are also some provisions against spammers. And it is now illegal to use someone else's computer to send an email.
No organization or individual is allowed to provide e-mail services in China if they do not first obtain relevant approval. Internet service providers are not allowed to provide services to organizations or individuals who provide e-mail services without approval.
An e-mail service provider must:
1. register the IP address of its internet server with MII or its branch at provincial level;
2. shut down the anonymous retransmission function of the e-mail server;
3. clearly inform users of rules of use;
4. record the time of sending or receiving e-mails, the sending party and receiving party as well as e-mail address and IP for sixty days;
5. keep registration information and internet e-mail addresses of the users confidential and must not use such information illegally; without the consent of users, such information cannot be disclosed.
These Measures also prohibit certain activities such as using another's computer to transmit e-mails without authorization, transmitting e-mails containing advertising content without the prior consent of the receiving party, and transmitting advertising e-mails without indication in the title of the e-mails that the message contained therein is an advertisement.
