China takes Kuaishou, Alibaba and Tencent to task for endangering minors online

Even though the platforms were given a deadline to take down the content, CAC has fined them for endangering minors' physical and mental health.

What are the seven types of illegal content?

• Children on live streams and becoming social media influencers, promoting "money worship" and extravagance.

• Pornographic and violent content.

• Inappropriate cartoons that had erotic and violent content.

• Forums that encourage behavior like suicide or engaging in child porn.

• Fan clubs where children were involved in fundraising activities.

• "Bad social behavior" such as cyberbullying.

• Inadequate measures to combat youth internet addiction.

Why does this matter?

• China’s legislature passed a data security law in June 2020 laying out rules for how customer data is used, collected, developed, and protected, and providing a legal basis for the country to request data from tech companies.

• China is now one of the countries with the most regulated data control after passing a cybersecurity law in 2017. It has since introduced laws to regulate data collection practices and the use of personal data and limit anti-competitive practices.

• China previously forced app stores operating in the country to remove ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing’s app on the grounds of illegal collection of personal data.

• Didi was among 34 tech companies being investigated by Chinese antitrust watchdogs in April, which have conducted on-site inspections of Didi.

• In March, Alibaba was told to give up its media properties over fears that the e-commerce giant has become too influential.