CNBC AI News, August 2 – Beijing is tightening its grip on online content, unveiling a “license-and-display” initiative for internet news information services. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s internet regulator, has been actively pushing platforms to visibly identify licensed news providers, aiming to create a more regulated and transparent online environment.
Since the beginning of the year, the CAC has been directing local offices to streamline the approval process for these licenses. Focus has been particularly on major platforms like Tencent, Douyin (TikTok’s Chinese counterpart), Kuaishou, and Weibo. These platforms, already approved to provide internet news information dissemination services, are being tasked with optimizing their systems to rigorously verify service qualifications. As a result, public accounts authorized to provide news information services are now being marked with a red “V” insignia, a digital scarlet letter denoting official approval. This “V” branding extends across various content formats, including text, audio, live streams, and short videos.
As of July 25th, a significant 13,516 public accounts have been tagged with the red “V,” clearly displaying the name of the service provider, license number, and service category. Furthermore, 4,401 websites and platforms are now visibly displaying their licensing information, signaling a concerted effort towards compliance.
The CAC plans to institutionalize and dynamically refine this “license-and-display” system. Furthermore, hinting at potential incentives, the regulator is considering rolling out traffic support policies designed to boost the influence and reach of these red “V” accounts. This suggests a potential shift in how content is prioritized and distributed across these platforms, favoring officially sanctioned voices.
However, the CAC’s initiative also carries a stick. The administration intends to crackdown on activities like fabricating news, impersonating media outlets, and illegally transferring or lending internet news information service licenses. The aim is to severely punish those who seek illicit gains under the guise of public opinion supervision or disrupt the online business environment. This dual approach – carrot and stick – underscores China’s commitment to shaping a “clean and clear” online space.
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