A concept photo of cybersecurity Photo: VCG

China's top internet watchdog has ordered major platforms to step up crackdown on abusive livestream tipping, focusing on sexually suggestive group streams, deceptive online personas, inducement of minors and tactics that spur irrational spending, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Wednesday.

One month after China launched special campaign to curb abusive livestream tipping, Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has instructed major platforms to step up enforcement, focusing on prominent problems such as sexually suggestive group streams that coax viewers into tipping, fabricated online personas used to deceive audiences, the inducement of minors to give tips and tactics designed to spur irrational spending, per CCTV.

Regulators have demanded platforms to strengthen the removal of violative content, refine tipping rules and tighten oversight of monetization practices.

So far, authorities have shut down more than 73,000 violative livestream rooms and 24,000 accounts, and have directed platforms to issue 28 rounds of public notices and case bulletins.

A number of high-profile influencers with large followings have been penalized, creating a deterrent effect across the industry. Officials say the overall environment in sectors prone to such abuses — including entertainment-focused group streams — has markedly improved, with conspicuous progress in curbing competitive tipping and deceptive tipping schemes. The industry's practices, they note, are showing signs of steady improvement.

During the campaign, major platforms have been asked to shoulder greater responsibility and tighten their management of livestream tipping. For example, Douyin, Chinese version of TikTok, has updated its rules governing multi-host streams and the agencies behind them, and has continued to strengthen oversight of such formats.

Chinese internet giant Tencent has upgraded its detection tools, developing multilayered models capable of identifying exposed sensitive areas, sexually suggestive movements and multiple people appearing on screen — all aimed at catching borderline content more effectively.

Xiaohongshu, China's Instagram-like platform and Huajiao, a live streaming platform in China, have enhanced their tipping reminders to encourage more rational spending.

Global Times