Chinese content platforms commit to self-discipline – industrial group

SHANGHAI, Sept.11 (Reuters) – Chinese content platforms, including Weibo (WB.O) and Tencent Video (0700.HK), have agreed to apply more self-discipline to help maintain a “clean” cyberspace environment, an industry association affiliated with the government said Saturday.

Chinese regulators last month cracked down on what they call a “chaotic” celebrity fan culture after a spate of scandals involving performers. Authorities have banned platforms from posting popular celebrity lists and ordered the regulation of fan groups.

The Chinese Performing Arts Association (CAPA) said it met with representatives of the platform on Friday, who pledged to only promote “healthy” content with positive values, to refrain from using the data. and traffic as the main guide and to stop encouraging “false hype”. .

Fourteen platforms signed the pledge, CAPA said in a WeChat statement, including the short video platform Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and news aggregator Jinri Toutiao, both owned by ByteDance.

Weibo, Tencent and ByteDance did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The platforms will strengthen their account management and restrict those who spread unfounded celebrity gossip or stir up conflict between fan groups, CAPA said. They will also encourage users to actively report illegal content.

“The participating platforms came to a consensus that in order to maintain a clean cyberspace environment and strengthen the construction of cultural content online, companies should exercise more proactive self-discipline,” he said.

Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by William Mallard

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