When you come across donation links claiming to generate merit and good karma, do you feel tempted? Hold on a moment—before clicking, please read on! Recently, we have discovered that some organizations and individuals are using online platforms to solicit funds under the guise of religious activities. Today, we will explain the relevant laws and regulations through two case studies.
Case 1: Online Tile Donation? Violates Regulations!
Although a temple in Hangzhou has obtained the Internet Religious Information Service License, its act of conducting online fundraising via a dedicated “Tile Restoration and Claim” column on its WeChat official account was strongly penalized by religious affairs authorities for violating related regulations.
Case 2: Online “Offerings to Buddha” and “Donations for Temple Construction”? Shutting Down!
A cultural media company in Hangzhou opened a shop on an e-commerce platform, listing links for religious offerings such as “Offerings to Monks and Buddhas” and “Donations for Temple Construction.” This was an illegal fundraising activity, and the shop was lawfully closed in accordance with relevant regulations.
Legal References:
According to Article 19 of the Regulations on the Administration of Internet Religious Information Services:
“Any organization or individual shall not conduct fundraising activities under the guise of religion on the Internet.”
Furthermore, charitable organizations initiated by religious groups, religious institutions, and religious venues that conduct online charitable fundraising must comply with the Charity Law of the People’s Republic of China.
The internet is not an “ATM for offerings”—any behavior that uses religion as a pretext to solicit alms online is a violation of the law. We urge Buddhist believers and netizens to stay alert, remain vigilant, and avoid falling into scams.
