Central Cyberspace Administration: Strengthening the "Self Media" Management Platform | Management | Media
Notice on Strengthening the Management of "Self media"
The Party Committee Cyberspace Office of each province, autonomous region, and municipality directly under the Central Government, and the Party Committee Cyberspace Office of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:
In order to strengthen the management of "self media", consolidate the main responsibility of website platform information content management, improve the normalized management system and mechanism, and promote the formation of a good online public opinion ecosystem, the relevant work requirements are hereby notified as follows:
1. Strictly prevent counterfeiting and counterfeiting behavior. Website platforms should strengthen account information review in registration, proposed changes to account information, and dynamic verification to effectively prevent self media counterfeiting and counterfeiting. For account information containing the names or logos of party, government, and military organs, news media, administrative divisions, it must be manually reviewed. If counterfeit and counterfeit products are found, relevant services shall not be provided.
2. Strengthen the display of qualification certification. For self media engaged in the production of information content in fields such as finance, education, healthcare, and justice, the website platform should conduct strict verification and display the names of their service qualifications, professional qualifications, professional backgrounds, and other certification materials on the account homepage, with domain labels added. For self media whose qualifications have not been certified or whose qualifications have expired, the website platform should suspend the provision of corresponding field information publishing services.
3. Standardize the labeling of information sources. When self media releases information related to domestic and international current events, public policies, social events, etc., website platforms should require them to accurately label the information source and display it in a prominent position during publication. If using self captured images and videos, relevant information such as shooting time and location should be marked one by one. Images and videos generated using technology must be clearly labeled as generated using technology. When citing old news and events, it is necessary to clearly state the time and location of the event at that time.
4. Strengthen information authenticity management. Website platforms should require self media to be responsible for the authenticity of the information they publish and reprint. When self media releases information, website platforms should display the account name of "self media" on the information release page and cannot be replaced by anonymous users. Information released by self media shall not be made out of nothing, shall not be taken out of context or distorted, and shall not be edited, synthesized or forged to affect the authenticity of the information.
5. Add fictitious content or controversial information labels. When self media releases content containing fictional plots and plot interpretations, website platforms should require them to prominently label them as fictional or deductive. Encourage website platforms to label disputed information with dispute tags and restrict the flow of relevant information.
6. Improve the rumor tagging function. Rumors related to public policies, social livelihoods, major emergencies, and other fields should be promptly marked with rumor tags on website platforms, with debunked information displayed at the top of specific rumor search pages. Algorithm recommendations should be used to improve the reach rate of debunked information and enhance debunked effectiveness.
7. Standardize account operation behavior. Website platforms should strictly implement the regulations on the number of registered accounts for "one person, one account, one enterprise, two accounts", and it is strictly prohibited for individuals or enterprises to manipulate the "self media" account matrix to publish and disseminate illegal and harmful information. Self media should be required to carry out account operation activities in accordance with the law and regulations. They should not collect negative information, stir up old news and events, speculate on social hot topics, or engage in consumer disasters. They should not use methods such as preventing loss of contact, early attention, or suspense to induce users to pay attention to other accounts, and encourage and guide self media to produce high-quality information content. Website platforms should strengthen the verification of self media account information to prevent accounts that have been closed in accordance with the law from being re registered.
8. Clarify the conditions for opening profit-making permissions. Self media applicants who apply for profit-making privileges must have no violation records within 3 months. If the account subject changes, within 3 months from the date of the change, the website platform shall suspend or not grant it profit-making rights. The profit-making methods include but are not limited to advertising sharing, content sharing, e-commerce sales, live streaming rewards, article or short video appreciation, knowledge payment, brand cooperation, etc.
9. Restrict profits from violations. If a website platform adopts a ban on illegal self media, its profit-making authority should be suspended simultaneously for a period of 2 to 3 times the ban period. For self media that create vulgar personas, violate public order and social norms, engage in malicious marketing through multiple account collaborations to speculate on social hot topics, etc., website platforms should cancel or not grant them profit-making privileges. Website platforms should regularly report to the Cyberspace Administration about restrictions on the profit-making rights of self media that violate regulations.
10. Improve measures for managing the number of fans. The website platform should promptly verify and eliminate the increased number of followers of self media due to violations. During the ban period, "self media" are not allowed to add new fans, and historical posts are not allowed to be presented in key links such as website platform recommendations and rankings. For self media that frequently engage in speculation and social hot topics to gain attention, new fans will be permanently banned. For serious cases, all fans will be cleared. Website platforms are not allowed to provide fan count transfer services.
11. Strengthen the management of MCN institutions affiliated with self media. The website platform should establish a sound management system for MCN institutions, and implement centralized and unified management of MCN institutions and their contracted accounts. On the "self media" account homepage, prominently display the name of the MCN institution to which the account belongs. For MCN institutions that use signed accounts to hype up and engage in multiple violations, the website platform should take measures such as suspending profit-making permissions, restricting service provision, and settling in and exiting.
12. Strictly handle violations. Website platforms should promptly detect and strictly deal with self media violations. All self media that produce and publish rumors, speculate on social hot topics, or disseminate illegal and harmful information in a matrix manner, causing adverse effects, will be closed, included in the platform's blacklist account database, and reported to the Cyberspace Department. For self media that repost rumors, measures such as canceling interactive functions, clearing fans, revoking profit-making privileges, banning, and closing should be taken. For self media engaged in financial, educational, medical and health, judicial and other fields that have not passed qualification certification, measures such as canceling interactive functions, banning, and closing should be taken.
13. Strengthen the exposure of typical case handling. Website platforms should strengthen the handling and exposure of illegal "self media", set up warning education columns, regularly publish typical cases of illegal "self media", and warn "self media" to do well in self-management.
Local cybersecurity departments should effectively fulfill their responsibilities in territorial management, strengthen business guidance and daily supervision, carry out supervision and inspection of information, social media, live streaming, short videos, knowledge Q&A, forum communities and other types of website platforms, and urge website platforms to strictly follow work requirements to ensure thorough implementation, and effectively strengthen self media management.
Secretariat of the Central Cyberspace Administration
July 5, 2023