China drops yet another shocking decision in a string of notorious internet censorship rulings. Today, some giant media platforms, including: Sina Weibo, iFeng and ACFUN have been ordered to stop streaming any video content on their websites. The move came when authorities were alerted that those websites contain media content that improperly tackles sensitive issues. They were warned to either clean up their platforms from prohibited content or be shut down for good.
Weibo is a social network platform that is considered as the Twitter version of China with an enormous client base up to 34 million subscribers, many of them rely on using audio-video content for their businesses. Sina Weibo has been regarded as a threat to television networks since its launch as viewers have moved away from television and showed an increased interest in online streaming services. The company said that they have received direct orders to take down all video streaming content.
The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television said that “This will provide a clean and clear Internet space for the wide number of online users” and would fight companies that promote “negative speech”.
Live streaming is not only for entertainment purposes, but it is also an indispensable tool in business. For example, many celebrities and popular figures profit from video streaming by cashing in virtual gifts. According to Statista, in 2016, the live streaming business was worth around $9,000,000. One of the most famous internet celebrities, Papi Jiang , also known as “China’s Internet Queen”, has a total of 44 million followers and fans on several media platforms. On Weibo, she has 23 million followers.
China may be able to reinforce control to sweep social networks, like Weibo to make sure that any sensitive or political content that is prohibited by the country is omitted. However, it is almost impossible to monitor and control livestreaming broadcasted from homes.
Mark Natkin, director of Marbridge Consulting, “Instead of a slap on the wrist, it’s a slap all the way up the arm, the neck and the head. But it’s still a slap; it’s not a kill shot “.
As for iFeng, the company was rebuked in public by authorities for streaming live interviews and news activities in the past 6 months without legal permission.
“The video department is a very important part of (iFeng). When the live stream service was reprimanded previously, it was a great blow. Now, they will feel even more nervous,” said former employee at iFeng.
As previously explained, this is not the first time China lays down a ban like this. Last year, the communist state restricted the broadcast of several topics on television, such as: smoking, time travel, unhappy marriages, witchcraft, sex and “teenage romantic relationships”. In addition, China banned in that year a total of 120 songs that talked about suicide, sexual activities as these topics “harm social morality”.
China is clearly not going to stop tightening the noose around internet services to strengthen its sovereignty on the internet and control public opinion.
