Crackdown on ByteDance, Alibaba Over Harmful Online Content

China’s top internet regulator announced actions against ByteDance’s news app Jinri Toutiao and Alibaba’s UCWeb browser. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) accused the platforms of allowing harmful content on their sites. The crackdown follows a two-month campaign targeting malicious online behavior.

The CAC said Toutiao failed to manage information responsibly and let harmful content appear in trending searches. The regulator summoned the company, issued a warning, and demanded quick corrections. Officials emphasized the damage caused to the online ecosystem by this negligence. However, specific content examples and penalties were not disclosed.

Similarly, the CAC said Alibaba’s UCWeb displayed sensitive and malicious topics, including online violence and minors’ privacy issues. The authority plans to take strict measures against the platform to prevent future violations. This is part of the broader effort to regulate internet content in China.

The crackdown aims to curb “malicious incitement of conflict” and negative messages that promote violence or social division. It targets content that stigmatises groups or spreads harmful stereotypes online. The campaign also addresses vulgar, pornographic, or subversive posts to protect public morals.

This move follows penalties against other popular platforms like Weibo, Kuaishou, and Xiaohongshu earlier in September. The CAC reaffirmed its commitment to cleaning up the online environment and holding companies accountable for content management failures. Regulators will continue monitoring major platforms to maintain order online.