China makes special rules

China’s internet watchdog recently started a special two-month campaign to clean up “chaos” in the streaming and short video businesses, part of a broader plan. to promote what is deemed appropriate and that the content is subject to legal compliance.

As for a starting point, the focus will be on correcting content that is “obscene, ugly, weird, fake, vulgar, or (encourages) gambling”, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said. in a recent statement.

Last year, China also launched a “special campaign” to “rectify” companies that manage social media influencers as part of a 10-point “clean cyberspace” plan. published by the regulatory body. At the same time, Internet celebrity Viya, whose real name is Huang Wei, was fined 1.34 billion yuan ($211.1 million) last December for concealing personal income and other crimes. in 2019 and 2020.

In 2020, research consulting firm iiMedia Research says there are more than 28,000 MCN agencies in China, which tend to manage many online influencers. Also according to Zhang Yongjun, a CAC official, MCN companies are behind 40% of the total accounts with more than 10 million followers on China’s main social media platforms, he said. in the future will continue to target MCN companies that have large influencers but produce content that is considered harmful to society.

“Online chaos is certainly related to website platform management, but there is also a large degree of correlation with MCN agencies.” “They’ve even been the cause of some field chaos, among other problems,” Zhang added.

Returning to a new two-month sweep, the focus of the campaign will continue to include overhauling multi-channel networks (MCNs), short videos and live streams, as well as dispelling rumors on the Internet. internet, according to Sheng Ronghua, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), while accounts posting illegal content will also be targeted.

The addition of MCN companies to the clean-up campaign highlights the cyber regulator’s growing concern with the companies behind much of the viral content on Chinese social media. Such companies also tend to manage a lot of online influencers, who have come under close scrutiny in recent months for issues like tax evasion.

Watchdog warns, short video and live streaming platforms that fail to determine the source of content, nature and legality of content, stream character, or fail to declare income to evade taxes will be subject to penalties. targeted during this two-month sweep.

Zhang Yongjun, a CAC official, also listed new measures aimed at these MCNs, including harsher penalties, banning them from managing content production from online influencers. is the subject of children. The regulator also requires MCNs that manage large social media influencers to clearly display information on their accounts, and the agency said it will also set up a dedicated reporting channel. specifically to “monitor” these companies.

“Our regulation of MCNs doesn’t mean we want to ‘kill them with sticks’, but we hope that they will be run legally and up to standards,” Zhang said. .

In 2021, CAC also tested the algorithms of more than 300 Internet companies, news media, e-commerce platforms, and video platforms, describing it as a learning experience that puts ” foundation” for further regulatory measures this year.

China bans unauthorized video game streaming, tightens regulations days after game license resumption

On April 16, China’s Broadcasting Authority banned unlicensed titles from being streamed on Twitch-like platforms such as Douyu and Huya. It marks another escalation in regulations on the video game industry days after new titles were licensed in China after a nine-month freeze.

Specifically, the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) said that online platforms including live streaming sites and short video services will be banned from broadcasting games that are not regulated by the regulator. approval, according to a notice on their website.

According to the regulator, streamed video game shows need to be approved by the NRTA at launch, and online platforms will need to be authorized to stream shows based on games. play or even foreign online game competitions.

“The rise of social problems such as streaming chaos and gaming addiction among adolescents has attracted widespread public attention for some time. The NRTA said effective measures were needed. signal to regulate issues rigorously”.

The new rules also emphasize that streaming platforms must have “minor protection” to prevent teenagers from becoming addicted to video games and prohibit them from spending money on streaming servers. Because selling virtual gifts is a popular form of content monetization among live stream organizers in China.