Key points
- China’s Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued warnings and disciplinary actions against Kuaishou and Weibo.
- Both platforms failed to manage content effectively, allowing problematic posts to gain traction.
- The CAC cited celebrity gossip and trivial personal updates as problematic content.
- Kuaishou and Weibo have acknowledged the criticism and formed task forces for rectification.
China’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), has taken disciplinary action against two prominent social media platforms, Kuaishou and Weibo, for failing to manage their content effectively. The CAC issued official warnings and ordered both companies to rectify their content moderation practices within a specified timeframe.
The actions follow the CAC’s assessment that both platforms allowed a significant amount of problematic content to proliferate, particularly those entries related to celebrity gossip and trivial personal matters that gained traction on their respective trending lists.
The CAC’s statements emphasized the platforms’ failure to fulfill their core responsibility of maintaining a healthy online environment. The regulator summoned representatives from both companies to address these concerns directly.
This assertive response underscores the Chinese government’s ongoing commitment to regulating online content and maintaining strict control over the information disseminated through its digital platforms.
In separate statements released on their respective platforms, both Kuaishou and Weibo expressed their sincere acceptance of the CAC’s criticism. They have pledged to take the matter seriously and have established dedicated task forces to lead rectification efforts.
The platforms are likely under pressure to demonstrate swift and comprehensive improvements in their content moderation strategies to avoid further punitive measures.
The crackdown on Kuaishou and Weibo comes on the heels of another investigation targeting Kuaishou’s e-commerce arm, Kuaigou. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation launched an investigation into Kuaigou for alleged violations of the nation’s e-commerce law.
This concurrent investigation highlights the broader regulatory scrutiny facing China’s tech sector, indicating a continued focus on ensuring compliance with increasingly stringent regulations.
