This topic provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Internet Content Provider (ICP) filings.

What is an ICP filing?

An ICP filing ensures compliance with the regulations in the Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services and Registration Administration Measures for Non-Commercial Internet Information Services. The People's Republic of China mandates an ICP filing system for non-commercial Internet information services and an ICP licensing system for commercial Internet information services. A website that has not obtained an ICP filing or a commercial ICP license is prohibited from providing non-commercial or commercial Internet information services. Therefore, all websites that provide services to Mainland China must first obtain an ICP filing. Alibaba Cloud GoChina ICP Filing Assistant provides various features to help you apply for ICP filings, modify the ICP filing information, cancel or claim an ICP filing, resume website access, and handle special inspections.

What happens if I do not have an ICP filing?

The preceding measures specify that you must obtain an ICP filing for a website with a domain name that is resolved to an instance located in Mainland China. Otherwise, this website is not allowed to provide services.
  • You must obtain an ICP filing and resolve the domain name to an Alibaba Cloud instance that is deployed in Mainland China. If the preceding requirements are not met, the Alibaba Cloud monitoring system suspends your website and asks you to obtain an ICP filing.
  • If you have obtained an ICP filing through another service provider and you want to resolve your website domain name to an Alibaba Cloud instance that is deployed in Mainland China, you must add Alibaba Cloud to the ICP filing information as a service provider. For more information, consult the designated ICP filing expert.

What is a service identification number?

A service identification number associates the website for which you want to apply for an ICP filing with the instance that hosts the website. When you apply for an ICP filing in the Alibaba Cloud ICP Filing system, you must provide a service identification number for each website. The quantity of service identification numbers that can be applied for per instance varies based on its service type.