WeChat users censoring content amid China crackdown on social media
Creators of online groups tightening control of posts as they will be held responsible for the content under regulations coming into force next month
Self-censorship is kicking in fast on WeChat as China’s new rules on message groups cast a chill among the 963 million users of Tencent Holdings’ social network.
Regulations released last week made creators of online groups responsible for managing information within their forums and the behaviour of members.
The measure do not take effect until next month, but the authorities have jumped into action by disciplining 40 people in one group for spreading petition letters and arresting a man who complained about police raids, according to reports in official Chinese media.
The prospect of punishment for the actions of others has led many administrators to disband groups while others circulate self-imposed rules discouraging the spreading of rumours or unauthorised information about Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Some are turning to alternatives, such as encrypted messaging apps, to avoid government scrutiny. The regulations are the latest in a series of moves carried out by the authorities as China ramps up for the politically sensitive period of the 19th Communist Party congress this autumn.