The Cyberspace Administration of China deploys the special operation of "Cleaning up and Rectifying the Illegal Conduct of Internet News Information Services"

To further regulate the activities of internet news information services, enhance the mainstream news opinion influence, and create a clean online space, the Cyberspace Administration of China recently issued a notice to deploy a three-month special operation called "Clean up and Rectify Illegal Internet News Information Services". An official from the Cyberspace Administration of China stated that this special operation targets illegal activities in internet news information services and focuses on five prominent issues. Firstly, disseminating false news information, using exaggerated headlines that are seriously inconsistent with the news content, or maliciously tampering, quoting out of context, editing, or fabricating news information to mislead the public. Secondly, under the guise of public opinion supervision, threatening or coercing others to provide money or engage in commercial cooperation through editing, publishing, reposting, deleting news information, intervening in the presentation of news information or search results, and seeking unfair benefits. Thirdly, impersonating or counterfeiting news websites, newspapers, radio and television stations, news agencies, or unauthorized use of names or logos with news attributes to establish websites, register accounts, and publish information. Fourthly, carrying out internet news information editing, publishing, reprinting, and dissemination services without permission or beyond the scope of permission, engaging in news gathering, and publishing news information without obtaining the qualifications for internet news information editing and publishing services. Fifthly, forging, selling, renting, lending, or transferring internet news information service licensing qualifications, selling, renting, or entrusting third parties to operate internet news information service channels through improper means or false materials. An official from the Cyberspace Administration of China emphasized that local cyberspace departments should enhance their political position, strengthen the organization and leadership of the special operation to ensure the effectiveness of rectification work. They should guide website platforms to optimize the classification of public accounts, establish special "news accounts", and make the verification of qualifications a prerequisite for opening news public accounts. They should promote the "licensed display" initiative by visibly displaying the name and license number of the service provider in approved service formats in various forms such as website platforms, public accounts, applications, and online live broadcasts. They should urge website platforms to optimize algorithm models and recommendation mechanisms to prioritize the dissemination of high-quality news information from news accounts. They should expand complaint and reporting channels, actively accept, verify, and address relevant illegal and irregular issues, and publicly expose typical cases. This article is reposted from the "Cyberspace China" WeChat public account. GMTEight Editor: Chen Wenfang.