Regulators Crack Down on Short Video Operators Bilibili, Miaopai
TechWeb, 7/27/18
Chinese regulators have conducted a cleanup operation targeting China's online short video industry, including bullet-screen video platform operator Bilibili Inc. (Nasdaq: BILI), Weibo's (Nasdaq: WB) official mobile short video recording and sharing app Miaopai, and 17 other online short video platforms.
Officials met with representatives for 16 online video platforms, including Bilibili and Miaopai, and requested that 12 platforms be removed from mobile app stores to correct serious problems with their operating behavior. Regulators involved in this campaign include the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), and National Anti-Pornography and Anti-Piracy Office.
Officials said that the 19 platforms that were the subject of its investigation were guilty of serious misconduct including continuing to distribute illegal vulgar, malicious, absurd, pornographic, and violent content despite repeated warnings from regulators, as well as stealing and illegally modifying copyrighted film and television content.
Yesterday, Bilibili, Miaopai, and other short video apps had already been removed from many mobile app stores. Bilibili said that it will take measures to dedicate more manpower to reviewing content on its platform. Miaopai said that it will continue to recheck historical content and will set up a blacklist system to permanently ban users that distribute illegal content.
Keywords: BILI Internet online video Ministry of Public Security National Anti-Pornography and Anti-Piracy Office Miaopai Cyberspace Administration of China Bilibili online short video Ministry of Culture and Tourism regulation NRTA WB