Over 13k public accounts verified as online news providers

Since the beginning of the year, more than 13,000 public accounts have received the red "V" symbol, with the name of the service entity, license number, and service category clearly indicated, to highlight their approved qualification as a news service provider by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the administration said on Friday.

In addition, more than 4,000 websites and platforms have displayed their licensing information, showcasing the achievements made in a campaign aimed at regulating the order of online news dissemination since early this year.

In the campaign, 15 online platforms including Tencent, short video platforms Douyin and Kuaishou, as well as China's Twitter-like service Weibo, were urged to improve their system, strengthen qualification verification, and add a red "V" mark on public accounts approved to provide internet news services, covering content in the form of images, audio, livestreaming, and short videos, the administration said.

The administration said it will further promote the campaign and help enhance the influence and dissemination power of verified "V" accounts.

It will also crack down on the dissemination of false news, impersonation of news media, renting, lending, and transferring internet news service licenses, and other related issues.

Severe actions will also be taken against those who seek illegal benefits and disrupt the business environment under the guise of public opinion supervision, in order to create a clean online space, it added.