NEWS / Qinglang regulations
In mid-March, China demonstrated its intention to tighten its control of the internet by issuing more regulations for its social media.
Qinglang Regulations
Qinglang Regulations for the internet first appeared in 2021. Qinglang is the Mandarin word for shiny, sunny, fine, cloudless. The Chinese Communist government is using the word to describe its approach to "cleanse and decontaminate" its internet.
For example, the government is determined to "thoroughly root out various illegal live streams and short videos tied to 'porn, ugliness, oddity, fakeness, vulgarity and gambling'" (AAAstocks.com). Qinglang regulations also are created to root out “chaos” created by the fan groups of celebrities that are responsible for "inappropriate comments."
Prohibitions against ugliness, oddity, fakeness, and chaos are sufficiently vague to be able to describe any type of internet content Chinese censors might find detrimental to its control or its goals.
Latest prohibitions
The latest regulations have created or clarified the types of content China bans on its social media.
Content by minors that will take advantage of them or provide them with "bad value-oriented content."
Manipulating data on reviews, rankings, and post popularity.
Inciting people to acts of upheaval. Prohibitions include "deliberately shouting and roaring" as well as publishing illegal acts such as "off-rhythm, confusing audio-visual, instigating extreme/opposing emotions" and other information.
Speculating about events, speeches, and documents in a way that misinterprets "the original intention of the content."
Encouraging large groups to gather together.
Inciting fans of celebrities to disrupt normal work and public order.
"Deformed aesthetic content [that] subvert[s] traditional moral values."
"Irritating interactive games" that contain vulgarity, sexuality, or other disgusting and curious gimmicks.
Content that endangers physical health, is likely to cause serious visual or psychological discomfort, or may disrupt public order and safety.
Defrauding people through fraudulent promises, fictitious facts, or the concealment of the truth.
Sources: JJCKB.com, Bitter Winter, Media Boss, AAA Stocks
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