China Imposes New Rules to Restrict Independent Online Content Creators
Rebecca Davis, provided by
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China has this week imposed its tightest restrictions to date on the publication of original content online via short video and “self-media” accounts, in the latest escalation of its ongoing crackdown on public discourse that strays from the party line.
The country’s internet watchdog, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), has issued new regulations requiring bloggers, influencers and content creators on public social media accounts, known as “self-media,” to possess a government-issued credential in order to publish anything on a host of topics, which came into effect Monday. Other social media categories such as trending charts, hot search lists, push notifications and short video platforms will also be impacted. The CAC did not, however, provide detail on what kind of punishment will be doled out for violators.
Ma Xiaolin frequently wrote about current affairs on one of China s leading microblogging sites, where he has two million followers.
But recently, he said in a post, the Weibo site called and asked him not to post original content on topics ranging from politics to economic and military issues. As an international affairs researcher and a columnist, it looks like I can only go the route of entertainment, food and beverage now, the international relations professor wrote on January 31.
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Weibo has brought in further Chinese government restrictions for bloggers.(AP)
Mr Ma, who often posted on developments in the Middle East, is one of many popular influencers working within the constraints of China s heavily censored web who is finding that their space to speak is shrinking even further with the latest policy changes and a clean-up campaign run by the country s powerful censors.
China Requires Online Writers to Have Government Approval
February 17, 2021
FILE - In this Thursday, April 28, 2016 file photo, a woman browses her smartphone near a display booth for China s Weibo microblogging website at the 2016 Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) in Beijing. Beijing (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
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The Cyberspace Administration of China will require bloggers and social media influencers to get special government approval starting next week. A government
credential will be necessary to publish things on the internet on a large number of subjects.
Some internet users are concerned that only state media and official propaganda accounts will be given permission to publish.
Китай посилює контроль за блогерами в інтернеті ukrinform.ua - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ukrinform.ua Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
China steps up online controls with new rule for bloggers ctpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ctpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.