Cyberspace regulation. Photo:VCG

In efforts to regulate internet news services and enhance the credibility of Chinese mainstream media, while creating a healthier online environment, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission launched a three-month campaign aimed at rectifying illegal online news information services, the office announced on Thursday.

The campaign will target five primary areas of concern, including the publishing of false or misleading news, such as creating sensational headlines, distorting or fabricating news content, or using misleading video and image edits to deceive the public.

The other area of concern is the abuse of media oversight, where some platforms used news production, publishing, and deletion to influence search results or extort money or favors from individuals and companies.

Impersonating legitimate news outlets, unauthorized internet news services, and forging or misusing news credentials such as the illegal trading or transfer of internet news service licenses will also be cracked down during the campaign. 

A spokesperson for the cyberspace regulator emphasized that local cybersecurity departments must enhance their political awareness and strengthen the leadership of this campaign to ensure its implementation. 

They should guide websites and platforms to refine the categorization of public accounts by creating a distinct category for "news accounts." Verifying licensing qualifications will be a prerequisite for launching such accounts.

Furthermore, the spokesperson highlighted that online platforms, public accounts, applications, and live broadcasts that provide online news services must prominently display the entity's name and license number. 

Platforms are also urged to improve their algorithm models and recommendation systems to prioritize high-quality news from certified news accounts. Reporting channels curbing illegal activities should be expanded, and investigations into such reports should be promptly conducted, with typical cases publicly exposed.

In recent years, the cyberspace administration authority has launched a series of campaigns addressing key problems across the online environment. This year, the campaigns focus on 10 major tasks, with most of which already underway, including the regulation of online space during the Spring Festival holidays, improving business environment by tackling corporate rights violations, crackdown on illegal external links, and curb the rise of unscrupulous content from social media accounts. Additionally, actions have been taken to clean up false and vulgar content in the livestreaming industry and protect minors online during the summer break.

Looking ahead, the office will target increased regulation in AI-generated and synthesized content by ensuring proper labeling, standardize online language use, and address local content issues in city-specific sections of the internet, according to a plan released by the office earlier in March outlining their key tasks for 2024.