How to Violate Chinese Law and Get Away With It: Don't Go There.

Home | China Law Blog | How to Violate Chinese Law and Get Away With It: Don’t Go There. In Cashing in on Internet Censorship, CNN News writes how VPN companies is booming, thanks largely to China. The article discusses how "foreign companies are profiting from software that allows circumvention of government internet controls." The article quotes one of my law firm's international attorneys on how businesses that offer firewall avoidance software in China are violating Chinese law: A China-based lawyer with Harris Sliwoski, an international business law firm, said that "companies supplying VPN products in China are technically breaking Chinese law," but points out how this hardly matters because those doing the violating are not in China: "China has no jurisdiction over such persons. As long as they do not physically enter China, there is no risk," he said in an email to CNN. Completely true and more relevant than people realize. There are a number of internet businesses that are legal in their country of operatio, but illegal in one or more countries in which they do business. Many years ago, there were internet businesses selling medications from countries in which a prescription was not required into countries (like the United States) where a prescription was required. The US government tricked some of the people behind these companies to come to the United States, where they were arrested. Not saying the same thing is going to happen to people at the companies selling illegally into China over the internet, but it might. Let's just say that if I were CEO of a VPN company, I would not go to China. I might even want to know which countries might extradite me to China. Our best advice on all this is to be mindful of the laws of all of the countries to which your company's operations reach and be careful about visiting those countries that may have a legal beef with your company or with you. May 16, 2024, Update: Since I wrote this post, China has become considerably more aggressive about going after people it does not like in countries outside China. This post is still mostly accurate, but if you really get in the bad graces of the CCP, there is some small chance that they will grab you somewhere outside of China. Check Out Our China Law Services Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn E-mail Comment Dan Harris Dan Harris is a founding member of Harris Sliwoski, an international law firm where he mostly represents companies doing business in emerging market countries. Most of his time is spent helping American and European companies navigate foreign countries by working with the international lawyers at his firm in setting up companies overseas (WFOEs, Subsidiaries, Rep Offices and Joint Ventures), drafting international contracts, protecting IP, and overseeing M&A transactions. In addition, Dan writes and speaks extensively on international law, with a focus on protecting foreign businesses in their overseas operations. He is also a prolific and widely-followed blogger, writing as the co-author of the award-winning China Law Blog. Harris Sliwoski Attorney Read more posts [email protected] Read More AI, Internet, Web3, and Blockchain, Legal News Related Posts September 15, 2026 Your AI-Drafted China Contract Says It Needs a Lawyer. Listen to It. September 11, 2026 Forensic Accountants in China Business Litigation: How True Numbers Can Tell the Wrong Story September 4, 2026 China NNN Agreement or Trademark Registration? You Usually Need Both September 1, 2026 AI Didn't Replace Lawyers. It Gave Us the 48-Page Contract. August 27, 2026 Do I Need a China NNN Agreement or a China Manufacturing Agreement? Usually Both. August 26, 2026 China’s New Overseas Investment Rules: Can Your Chinese Investor Actually Get the Money Out? August 24, 2026 International IP Protection for Startups: What to Protect and Where August 19, 2026 The Documents Are the International Deal August 19, 2026 China Supplier Fraud in Yiwu: Why We Recommended the Police, Not a Lawsuit August 17, 2026 China Trademark Registration: Why U.S. Companies Need More Than a Filing Agent August 10, 2026 Buying Expensive Equipment from China: Seven Questions to Answer Before You Pay August 7, 2026 DDP Shipping Risks: What Boise Cascade’s Guilty Plea Means for U.S. Buyers August 6, 2026 Protecting Your Artwork Internationally: What Artists Need to Do Before the Work Travels August 5, 2026 Your China Employee Signed the Vacation Policy. You Can Still Lose. July 29, 2026 The RedNote Contract Lesson for Companies Doing Business in China Leave a comment Cancel reply