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WeChat may be a staple in Chinese digital life, but that doesn’t stop the country’s government from cracking down on the messaging giant’s behavior. Reuters reports that Beijing prosecutors have sued Tencent over allegations that We Chat’s restricted “youth mode” violates laws protecting children. The lawsuit did not explain how the mode allegedly violated the law.
Young mode prevents young users from accessing payments, finding nearby friends, and playing certain games. It is effectively a parental control tool for a “super app” that can handle many daily tasks in China.
Tencent has not commented on the lawsuit. He recently set stricter limits for young people Honor of kings players, limiting their playing time to just one hour a day on weekdays.
The prosecution could be part of a larger crackdown. Chinese state media blasted the gaming industry and online platforms this week, and officials have already demanded better protections against online threats for children. The country has also focused much of its recent attention on taming tech giants like Tencent, Alibaba and Didi, handing them antitrust fines and temporary app bans – the lawsuit could be an extension of that effort.
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