China removes 1.4 million self-posts. China’s internet authority deleted 1.4 million social media posts after a two-month inquiry found “pronounced problems” such as deception, illegitimate profiteering, and official state impersonation.
The CAC deleted 67,000 social media accounts on Friday. In addition, a “rectification” operation deleted hundreds of thousands of messages between March 10 and May 22.
Since 2021, China has targeted billions of social media accounts to “clean” its internet and simplify regulation. WeChat, Douyin, and Weibo “self media” accounts that spread news and information were targeted in the crackdown.
Beijing arrests and censors those who publish or discuss sensitive or critical Communist Party, government, or military material, especially when it goes viral.
Nearly 8,000 of the 67,000 permanently banned accounts were for “spreading fake news, rumours, and harmful information,” according to CAC. Nine hundred thirty thousand accounts were suspended, removed from profit-making, or lost followers.
The regulator deleted over 100,000 fake news accounts to combat AI-enabled internet misinformation. “Chinese Red Army Command,” “Chinese Anti-terrorist Force,” and “Strategic Missile Force” were among roughly 13,000 phony military profiles blocked by the CAC on Friday.
Twenty-five thousand more accounts mimicking public agencies as illness, preventative centers, and state-run research institutes were targeted.
Nearly 187,000 were fined for impersonating news media businesses, while over 430,000 reportedly supplied professional advice or education without qualifications.
Forty-five thousand accounts were banned for “hyping hot issues, clout-chasing and illegal monetisation.” The regulator “actively coordinated with public security, market supervision and other departments, to deliver a heavy blow and rectify illegal’self-media’.”
“At the same time, (we) also call on the majority of netizens to actively participate in monitoring and reporting (illegal’self-media’), provide clues… and jointly maintain a clean cyberspace,” it added.
