Photo: VCG

China's cyberspace authorities announced on Monday that two internet platforms, Quark and the NetEase CC live-streaming platform, have been punished for engaging in illegal activities. This is one of the country's latest efforts to improve the management system and effectively maintain a clean cyberspace.

The Cyberspace Administration of China has instructed the Guangdong provincial cyberspace administration to lawfully summon the persons in charge of the two platforms. Quark has been fined 500,000 yuan ($68,347), and NetEase CC has been ordered to suspend the update of the "Dancing" channel for seven days.

At the same time, the two platforms have been ordered to immediately carry out comprehensive and thorough rectification and take serious actions against those who are responsible, according to the authorities.

The cyberspace authorities said that, based on the investigation, Quark has not complied with relevant management requirements, with the search results displaying a large amount of obscene and pornographic information. It also recommends pornographic and vulgar keywords to internet users, which violates the relevant laws and regulations.

There are serious loopholes in Quark's content security management, which undermines the online ecosystem, and the circumstances are particularly severe, the authorities said.

In response to the punishment, Quark said that the company attaches great importance to it, sincerely accepts and resolutely implements it, and has fully implemented the rectification in strict accordance with the requirements. They have also banned the relevant illegal content, according to media reports. The company also told the media that they have set up a special working group to actively carry out special rectification actions toward those illegal activities.

Multiple account anchors on NetEase CC engage in vulgar language and borderline sexual content during live-streaming broadcasts. However, the platform didn't take effective measures to regulate it, indicating its serious deficiencies in management, which disrupt the online ecosystem, and the circumstances are serious, the cyberspace authorities said.

NetEase CC also responded that the company will comprehensively clean up vulgar and harmful information on the platform and strengthen the management of content security, aiming to build a clean live-streaming environment with anchors and users together, according to media reports.

The authorities will continue to focus on the prominent problems of illegal cyberspace activities, further strengthen internet law enforcement, and urge the internet platforms to effectively fulfill their main responsibility and social responsibility.

China's regulations to protect minors in cyberspace require large online platforms to do their part in protecting minors online, including conducting impact assessments, providing modes for minors, or setting up special rooms for minors. The regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2024.

Global Times