Chinaโs cyber watchdog has shut down nearly 3,500 mobile applications for distributing pornographic material and stealing private information, a move it says is aimed at protecting the countryโs youth and increasing its control over Chinaโs internet.
According to an announcement by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), it has removed apps including โOnline Dating for Adultsโ (ๆไบบ็บฆ่), โLonely in the Nightโ (ๅค่ฒ็ๅฏๅฏ), and โSands Macaoโ (ๆพณ้จ้ๆฒ). App operators violated domestic laws by spreading vulgar content, disseminating information about gambling, stealing private information, or providing other illegal gaming services, the regulator said.
An official said the Chinese government has a โzero toleranceโ policy towards illegal apps. The CAC aims to strengthen its law enforcement powers in collaboration with other departments. It said an inclusive management process would be created, where internet service providers, content distribution platforms, and social media enterprises are strictly supervised.
Chinese authorities have taken increasingly strict measures to control content they deem to be harmful. In a news briefing held in May, police from the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou announced that three live streaming apps had been shut down. Police apprehended 90 suspects, including app creators and operational staff.
College students were also caught up in the broad investigation. Authorities accused livesteamers they thought to be provocative of โmaking easy moneyโ on the internet. The suspects allegedly made an average income of RMB 10,000 (around $1,500) a month. Police from 20 cities and towns were involved in the investigation.
Since August 2016, Chinaโs cyber watchdog has issued a series for regulations aimed at online service providers, including app creators, livestreamers, and chat room administrators. However, recently, app stores, social networking services, and cloud computing operators have also seen increased scrutiny, being held accountable for content generated on their platforms.
Last month, CAC censured more than 10 social networking and online media sites, calling for a โcleanโ and โrighteousโ cyberspace. Tencentโs WeChat, Sina-backed Weibo, Baidu, and ByteDanceโs Jinri Toutiao were all put on the government watchlist.
โInternet service platforms must take part of the blame for online disorder,โ a government official said.
