China Investigates Baidu, Tencent, Weibo over Fake News, Pornographic Content
CAC, 8/11/17
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has directed its provincial offices in Beijing and Guangdong to open investigations against Chinese internet companies Tencent (0700.HK), Weibo (Nasdaq: WB), and Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) over problems related to pornographic content and fake news.
The platforms specifically targeted in this investigation include Tencent's mobile messaging and SNS app WeChat, the Weibo microblog platform, and Baidu's bulletin board and communication platform Baidu Post Bar.
According to complaints from Chinese Internet users and the preliminary investigations by the Beijing and Guangdong cyberspace administrations, these three platforms each have users disseminating messages harmful to national security, public safety, and social order, including violent terrorist content, false rumors, and obscene content. The three platforms are suspected to be violating China's Internet safety laws for failing to meet their obligation to manage legally banned content posted by users on their platforms. Further developments in these investigations will be published by the relevant local cyberspace administrations.
Keywords: wireless mobile IM mobile SNS BBS monitoring regulation Internet Baidu Baidu Post Bar Tencent 0700.HK WeChat Weibo WB Cyberspace Administration of China pornography microblogging
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