China moves to boost cybercrime penalties by adding exit ban after sentences

China is looking to escalate measures against cybercriminals operating inside and outside its borders by banning convicted citizens from leaving the country, even after they have completed their sentence.The draft Cybercrime Prevention and Control Law bill comes as China doubles down on working with Southeast Asian countries to crack down on cross-border online fraud.The bill, which aims to impose an exit ban on Chinese found guilty of cross-border online crimes for up to three years after serving their sentence, was announced by Beijing’s public security ministry on Saturday. It will be open for public comment until next month.China vows tougher laws after execution of Myanmar-based gang membersChina vows tougher laws after execution of Myanmar-based gang membersChinese authorities use exit bans to prevent individuals – usually those deemed to be involved in legal disputes or suspected of offences not serious enough to trigger immediate arrest – from leaving mainland China. The target of the exit ban is not notified of the restriction until they try to cross the border.The draft bill is seen as potentially strengthening China’s defences against cybercrime and as a complement to the Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law that came into effect in 2022.In addition to targeting cybercrime or activities that aid cybercrime within and beyond the borders of mainland China, the draft bill seeks to curb actions that support cybercriminals, including businesses that offer payment platforms, servers, accounts or s, or engage in recruitment.The newly drafted bill also targets actions such as “spreading fake news and fabricated information” and publishing information that “goes against public order and accepted social morals to gain traffic or advertising revenue”.