BEIJING, China, March 6, 2026 — China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has highlighted enforcement actions against online unfair competition practices, including commercial defamation, as part of efforts to promote fair and predictable conditions for digital business.
The authority recently released eight typical cases of online unfair competition. Two of the cases involve commercial defamation, in which businesses used online platforms to damage the reputation of competitors.
According to the report, commercial reputation and product credibility are critical assets for businesses in a market economy. However, some operators misuse the speed and reach of online information to publish damaging or misleading claims about competitors in order to gain a competitive advantage.
In one case, a company posted negative information about a pet store on online platforms while promoting its own cat breeding business, without providing evidence to support the claims. Authorities determined that the conduct constituted the fabrication and dissemination of false or misleading information that harmed the competitor’s reputation. The company was ordered to stop the illegal conduct, eliminate the negative effects and pay a fine of RMB 150,000.
In another case, a business used e-commerce platform complaint mechanisms to file malicious complaints against competing sellers. Through a scheme involving third parties and fabricated evidence, the company lodged 27 complaints targeting 23 online stores. As a result of these complaints, some of the affected stores faced penalties from the platform, including product removal, account freezes and store closures, disrupting their operations. Authorities ordered the company to cease the conduct and imposed a fine of RMB 200,000.
Regulators said the cases illustrate the authorities’ commitment to combating commercial defamation and other forms of online unfair competition, warning that such practices can harm competitors, disrupt market order and mislead consumers.
The authorities also called on businesses to comply with the Anti-Unfair Competition Law and adhere to ethical standards when publishing online comments or filing complaints. They urged online platforms to strengthen monitoring and verification of information, and to take prompt action against false or defamatory content.
Market regulators also stressed the importance of cooperation with law enforcement, cybersecurity authorities and judicial bodies to address emerging patterns of coordinated defamation and cross-platform dissemination of false information. They said such coordinated oversight is necessary to safeguard fair competition and support the healthy development of the digital economy.
Source: https://www.samr.gov.cn/xw/mtjj/art/2026/art_69f79246daa24901ae68608dd12ab588.html
