On October 9th, a report from “Internet Information China” highlighted that since mid-July, internet regulatory authorities have launched a thorough initiative named “Clear and Bright: 2024 Summer Online Environment for Minors”. This campaign aims to address significant issues affecting the physical and mental well-being of minors across various online platforms including live streaming, short videos, social media, and e-commerce.
During this initiative, authorities have successfully removed over 4.3 million pieces of harmful content related to minors. Additionally, more than 130,000 accounts have been dealt with, and over 2,000 websites or platforms have been shut down or removed. The goal is to safeguard the legal rights of minors effectively.
A key focus of the campaign has been the crackdown on toxic video content targeting minors. The initiative specifically targets live streams and short videos that feature themes involving minors, particularly those that propagate negative or dangerous behaviors. Inspectors discovered instances where classic animated content was maliciously altered to include violent elements, leading to the propagation of disturbing titles like “My Little Pony: Blood-Soaked Version” and “Crazy Grandma Ambushes Peppa Pig”. Some videos also twisted children’s songs with crude language, transmitting harmful values. There were reports of staged scenarios involving minors engaging in inappropriate behavior, such as smoking in bathrooms or scripted fights, all marketed unethically to appear as “sexy”.
In addition, the initiative addressed the alarming issue of online harassment against minors. Authorities have scrutinized sections of the internet, including school walls and message boards, for “user targeting” behaviors. They identified that some forums accepted anonymous submissions leading to harassment, including the exposure of minors’ private information. Some businesses even offered paid services for engaging in verbal abuse, while others shared tutorials for online harassment. Regulatory bodies in regions like Beijing and Henan took swift actions, closing over 1,500 accounts that facilitated such activities and imposing serious penalties on platforms that harbored these violations.
Furthermore, the campaign targeted severe internet crimes such as online solicitation. Investigators uncovered cases where offenders used short video platforms to promote indecent content under the guise of “sign-holding” videos. Some individuals posed as “peers” to lure minors into sending intimate photos, leading to instances of online harassment. Internet authorities in cities like Tianjin and Guangdong have since increased monitoring of comments and user interactions, closing roughly 1,000 related groups and collaborating with law enforcement on over 70 criminal cases.
Another significant effort involved addressing the illegal sale of products aimed at minors. Authorities in Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang have pressed local e-commerce platforms to eliminate regulations that allowed the sale of inappropriate merchandise targeting minors. Some shops engaged in selling anime-themed products while discreetly sending links to adult content. There were also reports of sellers promoting cheating methods for online gaming restrictions, potentially leading minors into addiction.
Moreover, a review of applications aimed at minors resulted in the removal of numerous apps from stores that had misleading content or features. Apps that imitated popular children’s applications and redistributed inappropriate content were among those taken down. In total, over 900 such apps were removed, and measures were taken against developers with serious violations, including account suspensions.
The internet regulatory bodies plan to continue their efforts to ensure a safe online space for minors. They call on the public to actively participate in reporting issues in order to promote a healthy and secure internet environment for children.
