28-5-2023 (BEIJING) China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) announced on May 27 that it has removed 1.4 million social media posts following a two-month investigation into various issues, including misinformation, illegal profiteering, and impersonation of state officials.
The CAC stated that between March 10 and May 22, it had shut down 67,000 social media accounts and deleted hundreds of thousands of posts as part of a comprehensive “rectification” campaign. This ongoing effort is aimed at cleansing China’s cyberspace and enhancing government control over online platforms.
In recent years, China has focused on targeting billions of social media accounts to create a more regulated online environment. The current crackdown specifically targeted accounts on popular Chinese social media apps such as WeChat, Douyin, and Weibo that fall under the category of “self-media.” These accounts refer to independent sources that publish news and information but are not government-operated or officially approved.
The Chinese authorities frequently detain citizens and censor accounts that share factual information deemed sensitive or critical of the Communist Party, the government, or the military, especially when such content goes viral.
Among the 67,000 permanently closed accounts, nearly 8,000 were taken down for spreading fake news, rumors, and harmful information, according to the CAC. Additionally, around 930,000 other accounts faced less severe consequences, ranging from losing all their followers to having profit-making privileges suspended or canceled.
In a separate campaign, the regulator recently closed over 100,000 accounts that were allegedly impersonating news anchors and media agencies, combating the proliferation of online fake news facilitated by AI technologies.
The CAC revealed that its latest initiative also targeted approximately 13,000 counterfeit military accounts with names like “Chinese Red Army Command,” “Chinese Anti-terrorist Force,” and “Strategic Missile Force.” Furthermore, 25,000 other accounts were flagged for impersonating public institutions, such as disease control centers and state-run research institutes.
Almost 187,000 accounts faced repercussions for impersonating news media organizations, while over 430,000 allegedly offered professional advice or educational services without possessing the necessary qualifications.
Approximately 45,000 accounts were shut down for “hype, clout-chasing, and illegal monetization.”
The CAC stated that it had actively collaborated with public security agencies, market supervision authorities, and other departments to deliver a significant blow and rectify illegal self-media practices.
