China's Cyber Administration has imposed fines on tech companies including Tencent Holdings and Alibaba Group for disseminating sexually explicit content involving children. The administration stated in a Tuesday announcement that it has issued directives to Kuaishou Technology, Tencent's QQ, Alibaba's Taobao, Weibo Corp, and Little Red Book to remove violating accounts and pay unspecified fines.
The penalties against tech companies are part of a campaign to address online content deemed "harmful to the physical and mental health of minors." The Cyber Administration of China noted in the statement that it "will intensify the enforcement of laws and regulations, and punish those who violate the rules... There will be a zero-tolerance approach towards issues that harm minors."
In recent months, social media users and state news outlets have protested against e-commerce platforms, where sellers exploit images of child models to sell goods, in addition to manipulated animations and videos that exploit minors. The statement added that the cyber regulator also plans to tackle live streaming aimed at minors, the quality of online education platforms, violent and sexually explicit animations, online communities, and fan clubs of popular idols as part of its campaign.
This campaign adds pressure to China's internet sector, which is already facing scrutiny over issues ranging from antitrust to data security. The Cyber Administration gained attention in July after announcing an investigation into Didi Global and unveiling rules requiring any company seeking to conduct an initial public offering abroad to obtain its approval.
Shares of Kuaishou Technology dropped by 3.2% following the Cyber Administration's statement. Tencent's shares fell by about 2%, while Alibaba's shares declined by 0.6% in afternoon trading (local time). Global tech companies have also taken steps to combat child exploitation, with Facebook announcing new tools in February to prevent users from sharing content that harms children.
