Some friends were questioning whether using a VPN is illegal. Just saw this case—an administrative penalty decision announced on March 11, 2026. Using Clash (to bypass restrictions) for international internet access and browsing/using foreign apps like Titok and X was deemed illegal. Although the penalty wasn’t severe, it was just a fine of 200 RMB. According to Articles 6 and 14 of the 'Provisional Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of International Networking of Computer Information Networks,' the maximum penalty can be 15,000 RMB, along with confiscation of all illegal gains. While it doesn’t seem too harsh, the most significant issue is that it leaves a formal administrative penalty record that can be publicly queried. That part gets pretty complicated.