BEIJING: A campaign against smartphone browser applications that publish or spread vulgar, sensational or untrue information has been launched across the country as part of a new effort to purify the online environment and respond to public concerns over the chaos in cyberspace. The campaign initiated by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the country’s top internet regulator will initially focus on eight of the most influential mobile browser apps, including those operated by Huawei Technologies and QQ, according to a statement released by the authority on Monday. The administration told the browser app operators to conduct self-examinations and rectify problems by Nov 9. The problems include the spreading of rumors, the use of sensational headlines and the dissemination of vulgar content, the statement said. “For some time, mobile browsers have grown in an uncivilized way, with irregularities in publishing and spreading information,” the administration said.
“Some have become a gathering place and amplifier for dissemination of chaos by a few self-media accounts that are illegally editing news. “Given that the chaos has also been a big complaint among the public, we decided to launch the campaign to help the mobile internet browsers keep in order in a short time by intensifying supervision,” it said.
“After the apps’ self-examination and rectification, we’ll start an evaluation for them. If they still have outstanding problems, they’ll be dealt with strictly in line with laws and regulations until related businesses are banned,” it added.
Wang Sixin, a professor specializing in internet rules and laws at Communication University of China, said that the eight browser apps were listed as the first batch of targets in the campaign not only because they have abundant users, but also because some problems with information dissemination have been found on their platforms.
As for the harmful information that repeatedly emerges online, “it should be attributed to some irresponsible browser app operators who do not strictly review the uploaded content,” Wang said.
– The Daily Mail-China Daily News exchange item
