The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has announced the removal of 1.4 million social media posts following a comprehensive two-month investigation into allegations of misinformation, illegal profiteering, and impersonation of government officials, among other significant issues.
In a statement released on Friday, the CAC disclosed that between March 10 and May 22, it had closed approximately 67,000 social media accounts and deleted hundreds of thousands of posts as part of an extensive “rectification” initiative.
Since 2021, Chinese authorities have targeted billions of social media accounts in an effort to “clean” the digital space and enhance governmental oversight.
The current crackdown focused on accounts within popular Chinese social media platforms such as WeChat, Douyin, and Weibo, specifically targeting those classified as “self media,” which refers to accounts disseminating news and information without government endorsement.
Beijing consistently takes action against citizens and censors accounts that publish or share information deemed sensitive or critical of the Communist Party, government, or military, particularly when such information gains significant traction online.
Nearly 8,000 of the 67,000 accounts permanently shut down were removed for disseminating “fake news, rumors, and harmful information,” according to the CAC.
Additionally, around 930,000 other accounts faced lesser penalties, which included the loss of followers or suspension and cancellation of their profit-making capabilities.
In a parallel operation, regulators recently shut down over 100,000 accounts accused of misrepresenting news anchors and media organizations to curb the spread of fake news bolstered by AI technologies.
The CAC stated that its latest campaign also identified nearly 13,000 fraudulent military accounts with names including “Chinese Red Army Command,” “Chinese Anti-terrorist Force,” and “Strategic Missile Force.”
Furthermore, about 25,000 accounts were penalized for impersonating public institutions, such as disease control centers and state-run research organizations.
Nearly 187,000 accounts faced sanctions for pretending to be news media outlets, while over 430,000 were accused of offering professional advice or educational services without proper qualifications.
Additionally, around 45,000 accounts were closed for engaging in “hype on trending topics, clout-chasing, and illegal monetization.”
The CAC emphasized its commitment to working closely with public security, market supervision, and other departments to rigorously address and rectify illegal activities associated with “self-media.”
It also encouraged internet users to actively partake in monitoring and reporting instances of unlawful “self-media,” aiming to collaboratively sustain a clean online environment.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
