China’s top social media sites probed for ‘hosting illegal content, endangering national security’
Information carried by Weibo, WeChat and Baidu Tieba violated China’s new cybersecurity law, industry watchdog says
China’s three most popular social media platforms have been placed under investigation on suspicion of violating the country’s new cybersecurity law, the top internet watchdog said on Friday, as it seeks to tighten its grip before the party congress in the autumn.
The Cyberspace Administration of China said in a short statement that its branches in Beijing and Guangdong province have begun investigations into Tencent Holdings’ messaging app WeChat, Sina’s Twitter-like service Weibo, and Baidu’s communication forum Tieba after receiving tip-offs from users.
The local watchdogs found evidence that some users were using the platforms to disseminate violent, obscene information and rumours that “endangered national security, public security and social order”, the statement said.
All three are suspected of violating the cybersecurity law and other regulations, and for not properly managing the information sent by users, it said.
