China launches campaign against online hostility and “negative sentiment”

The Chinese Cyberspace Administration has launched a two-month nationwide campaign aimed at restricting online content that promotes hostility, violence, or pessimism.

The regulatory authority announced that it would monitor trending topics, recommendations, and comments on major social media platforms more closely. Content that spreads rumors about the state of the economy, conspiracy theories, distorted representations of events, or posts that propagate a negative view of life—such as statements like “studying is useless”—will be banned.

The authorities also want to focus on posts that fuel conflicts between fan groups and the spread of instructions on doxxing.

The measure comes at a time when the Chinese economy is struggling and youth unemployment remains a serious problem, fueling fears of a rise in negative sentiment. The government has long relied on strict control of the internet, arguing that heated online debates could destabilize society.

The announcement came a day after police in Beijing took action against three people who had spread false reports about the death of a well-known actor. According to the authorities, this involved the deliberate dissemination of rumors and fake videos that had “seriously disrupted public order.”

(reuters, max)