China will examine online platforms, such as social media and video-sharing sites, to restrict disinformation and fake accounts, as part of its campaign to clean the internet, declared the China Cyberspace Administration (CAC ).
The Chinese cyber regulator said it would launch a two-month-long special operation to prosecute deceptive behaviors online, ranging from increasing engagement statistics to paying for followers and fake reviews.
The investigation comes as part of a broad crackdown by regulators in various sectors, with officials tightening oversight of tech, real estate, gaming, education, cryptocurrency and finance companies.
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 Thursday.
“The conference noted that online traffic fabrication, malicious public relations and money-making comments currently harm the legitimate rights and interests of Internet users.“Said the statement adding that this was the”final battle“In the CAC campaign for”clean up” internet.
Previous special operations this year have focused on celebrity fondness, the use of the internet by minors and also on discussions of historical events that differ from the official narrative promoted by the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
Although Thursday’s statement did not name any company or person, it said that platforms that host movie and book reviews, short videos and social media would be among the focal points of the operation.
Douban, an online platform where tens of millions of Chinese users review movies and discuss various social topics, and the microblogging site Weibo, were fined by the CAC this month for posting illegal content.
The Chinese State Council published in September guidelines for building an internet “civilized”, In which it was said that the network should be used to promote education about the Communist Party in power and its achievements.
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