Campaign curbs spread of harmful content online

During a monthlong campaign, more than 1.19 million pieces of harmful information posted on the internet have been cleaned up, and over 160,000 online accounts and groups have been held accountable, China's top internet regulator said on Wednesday.

In January, the Cyberspace Administration of China launched the campaign in an effort to curb the spread of improper or illegal information online, focusing mainly on content involving the irrational support or idolization of celebrities during the Spring Festival holiday as well as content that harmed minors or fanned rumors.

Statistics showed that more than 31,000 posts that deceptively lured fans of pop stars with disingenuous content to generate views and incited followers of different celebrities to argue with each other on the internet have been removed, with 8,500 accounts receiving punishment.

Meanwhile, more than 140,000 pieces of disinformation related to the news, the COVID-19 epidemic and people's livelihoods have been deleted, and over 2,000 livestreaming rooms that spread rumors have been punished, according to the administration.

Additionally, cyberspace departments across the country have also cleaned up more than 3,000 accounts that were deemed harmful to children, including some that encouraged minors to drink alcohol or smoke or caused them to become addicted to the internet, it said.

Spam and information about gambling have also been removed, it added.