China’s Cyberspace Administration has acted against more than 370 accounts that it claims were spreading misinformation or distorting public policy data.
The administration has taken steps to counter these accounts, which have been using deception to garner online popularity and profit from the disinformation.
Among the cases revealed by the administration was an article falsely claiming a conference was going to address different financial and economic policies, causing stock market instability.
As a result, accounts spreading such unfounded claims on platforms like WeChat and Sina Weibo have been legally shut down due to their destructive impact.
In another instance, some accounts falsely claimed to be part of a “national leading group for improving underdeveloped areas” and lied about being able to help cities and counties secure government subsidies ranging from 1 billion to 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion). These accounts have also been closed, the administration reported.
The administration plans to keep actively countering the spread of rumors, thoroughly investigating account holders, revealing typical cases, and establishing a strong deterrent. It also encourages both government departments and internet users to report any misconduct, to help cultivate a more trustworthy digital space.
In 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China initiated a campaign titled [“Operation Qinglang”/”clear and bright”] with the aim of promoting a clean internet environment.
As a recent part of this initiative in May, the administration permanently shut down 66,600 individual media accounts on social media and the internet following a two-month investigation, in a dedicated effort to curb rumor spreading, impersonation, and illegal profit-making activities.
