On October 9, the “Cyberspace Administration of China” announced through their WeChat account that since mid-July, they have been running a focused initiative called “Clear & Bright: 2024 Summer Online Environment Correction for Minors.” This campaign aims to tackle critical areas such as live streaming, short videos, social media, and e-commerce, all with the goal of addressing issues that threaten the physical and mental well-being of minors. During this campaign, authorities filtered out over 4.3 million pieces of illegal and harmful content, took action against more than 130,000 accounts, and shut down over 2,000 websites and platforms, significantly enhancing the protection of minors’ rights.
One of the major concerns has been toxic videos that can be detrimental to minors’ health. The initiative specifically targeted live streams and short videos featuring minors or themes that spread harmful content or encourage dangerous behaviors. Officials reported discovering video clips that blended violent themes with popular children’s animations, alarmingly titled “My Little Pony: The Bloody Version” and “Crazy Grandma Attacks Peppa.” There were also instances where children appeared in disturbing scenes, such as eating playdough or smoking, with some videos deceitfully marketed under the title “sexy girls.” To address these issues, authorities enhanced content review standards on major platforms, leading to the suspension of over 21,000 violating accounts and the cancellation of more than 32,000 live streams.
The campaign has also made strides in combating online harassment directed at minors, particularly concerning practices like “doxxing.” Authorities scrutinized anonymous forums, such as “campus walls” and “message boards,” where minors’ personal information—including names and schools—could be maliciously exposed. Some companies were even found offering services that facilitated paid harassment. Investigators uncovered organized harassment schemes through mass reporting. In areas like Beijing, Henan, and Guizhou, over 1,500 harmful threads and discussions were dismantled, and platforms faced significant penalties for serious violations, with pertinent cases referred to law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, the initiative has been vigilant in addressing online sexual offenses. Officials discovered that some criminals were using short video platforms to peddle pornographic material under the guise of promotional “signboards.” These perpetrators often targeted minors by posing as peers in private messages to solicit explicit images. Prompted by reports from concerned citizens, timely investigations ensued, and platforms were advised to tighten controls over comment sections to deter predatory behavior. As a result, over 1,000 groups associated with these illegal activities were shut down, and more than 70 cases were pursued in cooperation with law enforcement.
Further, authorities have focused their efforts on curbing the sale of illegal products targeting minors. Departments in areas such as Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang conducted thorough inspections of online marketplaces. Some stores were found to be selling anime-style pillows that were connected to pornographic content. Moreover, certain merchants were disguising forbidden items, such as USB drives used for disseminating superstitious information. Additionally, some influencers provided guidance on how to circumvent online gaming restrictions, essentially promoting internet addiction among minors. This led to the removal of over 42,000 illegal products from major websites and penalties for more than 1,400 stores through closures and fines.
The authorities have also been proactive in removing problematic applications aimed at minors from app stores. They ensured that any service providers catering to minors complied with safety protocols during the app approval processes. Investigations revealed that some apps were posing as popular platforms while spreading harmful content. Notable findings included learning apps rebranding as gaming applications and others promoting unhealthy relationships or redirecting users to adult sites. Through the initiative, over 900 problematic apps were removed, and more than 1,000 others were denied approval, with stringent actions taken against developers responsible for severe issues.
The Cyberspace Administration plans to further enhance the effectiveness of this initiative, pressing online platforms to uphold their responsibilities in protecting minors. Platforms and accounts that fail to make necessary improvements will face strict legal repercussions. Officials are also encouraging internet users to actively engage in oversight and reporting, working together to foster a healthy and secure online environment for young individuals.
