China’s cybersecurity watchdog unveils two-month campaign to stamp out social media manipulation as part of industry crackdown
- A new two-month campaign will focus on weeding out social media manipulation, including faking records, flaming rivals and unfairly influencing discussions
- The latest move forms part of a national crackdown on ‘internet chaos’ since the start of the year
The campaign will keep authorities on alert to illegal or unsavoury practices through the Spring Festival, forming part and parcel of China’s mission to “clean up the internet” since the start of the year, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said in a statement late Thursday.
China’s internet behind the Great Firewall is rampant with manipulation for commercial purposes amid stiff competition for eyeballs. Tolerated in the past, they are now seen as part of the web chaos, or luan, that must be curbed as regulators seek to assert control to preserve social stability amid an economic slowdown.
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The CAC held a meeting on Wednesday with provincial-level branches and representatives from online platform operators to kick-start the latest campaign. The aim is to “normalise the order of communication, protect the legitimate rights and interests of the people and maintain good market order,” the CAC said.
