Securities Illustration: VCG

Shanghai securities and cyber watchdogs have recently launched a joint law enforcement operation against illegal online securities and futures activities in a bid to maintain order in the stock market and safeguard the rights and interests of investors, the security regulator said on Wednesday.

Law enforcement authorities have blocked 17,000 instances of harmful information, removed 3,187 audio and video programs, and shut down more than 8,000 illegal accounts and 53 online live broadcast rooms, according to a notice published on the website of Shanghai Securities Regulatory Commission (SSRC) on Wednesday.

The authorities have also urged all online trading platforms to investigate and rectify risks related to illegal securities and futures operations, clean up illegal information issued deliberately by profit-seeking market "advisers".

The verification of the qualifications of public account operators, investor education, and handling of reports on online illegal securities and futures information has been strengthened in order to prevent uncertified financial advisors from spreading misleading and illegal information on the internet, authorities said.