Is VPN Use Really Punished? Uncovering the Truth Behind China’s Administrative Penalties

Recent rumors claim that VPN "wall‑jumping" has been heavily penalized in China, causing anxiety among programmers who rely on such tools to access learning resources and technical documentation.

To verify the claims, the author searched the Zhejiang Provincial Government’s public service portal, which lists administrative penalties for individuals using illegal channels for international networking.

The search used the keyword "channel" and covered the period from August 20 to August 31 2020. The results showed only one entry related to VPN usage, and that entry was later marked as a mistaken push and subsequently revoked.

Further investigation of the specific case revealed the revocation reason: push error, revocation of push . This suggests that the earlier wave of penalties may have been a misjudgment, later corrected by deletion and revocation.

Despite the lack of widespread penalties, the article reminds readers that the Interim Regulations on the Administration of International Connectivity of Computer Information Networks explicitly prohibit individuals or organizations from establishing or using unauthorized channels for international networking. Violations can lead to orders to cease networking, warnings, and fines up to ¥15,000, with confiscation of illegal gains.

In conclusion, while the rumored mass penalties appear unfounded, the legal framework still strictly forbids unapproved VPN usage.