China Targets Online Platforms in Quest to 'Clean Up' Internet

China’s investigation comes against the backdrop of a wide-ranging crackdown by regulators on several sectors.

By Reuters | Updated: 24 December 2021 11:59 IST

China Targets Online Platforms in Quest to 'Clean Up' Internet

The Cyberspace Administration of China said it would launch a two-month special operation

Highlights

The CAC held a video conference on Wednesday
Previous special operations this year have targeted celebrity fandom
China's State Council published guidelines to build civilised Internet

China will scrutinise online platforms such as social media networks and video-sharing sites to clamp down on fake accounts and information as part of its drive to "clean up" the internet, the country's cyber regulator said on Thursday.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it would launch a two-month special operation to target deceptive online behaviours, ranging from boosting engagement figures to paying for fake fans and reviews.

The investigation comes against the backdrop of a wide-ranging crackdown by regulators on several sectors, with officials tightening oversight of companies in technology, real estate, gaming, education, cryptocurrencies, and finance.

Weibo Fined by Chinese Regulator for Publishing Illegal Information

The CAC held a video conference on Wednesday attended by its provincial and municipal bodies from across the country, according to a statement posted on its website on Thursday.

"The conference noted that at present, fabricating online traffic, malicious public relations, and comments-for-cash ... harm the legitimate rights and interests of netizens," said the statement, adding that this was the "final battle" in the CAC's drive "clean up" the Internet.

Previous special operations this year have targeted celebrity fandom, minors' usage of the Internet, and also discussions of historical events that differ from the official narrative promoted by the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

China to Bring Algorithm Governance Rules Over Next 3 Years

While Thursday's statement did not name any companies or individuals, it said platforms hosting film and books reviews, short videos, and social networking would be among the focal points of the operation.

Douban, a online platform where tens of millions of Chinese users review films and discuss various social topics, and micro-blogging site Weibo, were both fined by the CAC this month for unlawful content.

China's State Council published guidelines for building a "civilised" Internet in September, saying the web should be used to promote education about the ruling Communist Party and its achievements.

Chinese Gamers Under 18 Can’t Play More Than 3 Hours a Week

What are the best phones of 2021? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.