Web firms told to increase safeguards for minors

A regulation released by the State Council on Tuesday has put the onus squarely on internet product and service providers when it comes to ensuring the safety of children online and comprehensively dealing with cyberbullying.

The 60-article regulation concerning online protection for juveniles, released by China's Cabinet, will take effect on Jan 1 and requires internet product and service providers to put systems in place to strengthen identification, monitoring, detection, prevention and early warnings for cyberbullying targeted at children.

Under the regulation, any cyberbullying by individuals or organizations, such as insults, slander, threats or damaging images unsuitable for children must be prohibited. This covers texts, images, audio and video.

Online platforms are required to make it easier for children and their guardians to keep records of cyberbullying, and be able to block strangers and their posts, the regulation said.

It calls for internet platforms to take advantage of technologies, including artificial intelligence and big data, to optimize their algorithms to intensify the monitoring, identification and detection of cyberbullying.

The regulation urges schools and families to guide minors on how to surf the internet in a healthy, scientific, civilized and safe fashion, with multiple provisions on preventing youngsters from becoming addicted to the internet.

Teachers should inform children's guardians in a timely manner if they suspect a child is spending too much time online, and internet enterprises need to establish and improve systems to mitigate internet addiction, it said.

It also orders livestreaming, gaming, social and video sharing platforms not to lure underage users into spending money by sending credits to livestream hosts or buying or renting games.

The regulation underscores the protection of personal information of all internet users.

The formulation of the regulation is to create a sound cyberspace environment for juveniles, as well as the implementation of the Minor Protection Law, the Cybersecurity Law and the Personal Information Protection Law.