Public Security Penalty Expansion Risks ‘Abuse of Power,’ Legal Experts Say

By Shan Yuxiao and Wang Xintong

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Police officers on segways patrol a night market on June 16 in Zhoushan, East China’s Zhejiang province. Photo: VCG

China’s top legislature is seeking public comment on draft public security law revisions that expand the scope of punishment for a wide range of behaviors, including cheating on exams, organizing pyramid schemes and unauthorized drone flights.

However, some of the proposals include penalties for wearing clothes deemed “detrimental to the feelings of the Chinese nation,” drawing criticism online from legal experts who said those measures violate people’s freedom and could lead to abuse of power.