Tencent and Baidu in China censor’s crosshairs for allowing disturbing children’s videos

China’s top media regulator on Monday has launched investigations against some of the top websites and video-streaming platforms for allowing disturbing videos targeted at children and said it was embarking on a two-month crackdown to take down inappropriate online content such as violence, sex and toilet humour featuring popular cartoon characters.

Tencent Video, Baidu’s Haokan, Youku, owned by Alibaba Group Holding, and iQiyi have all responded and pledged to step up scrutiny of videos uploaded by users.

The anti-pornography office, a unit of China’s state media censor – the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), is investigating Youku, iQiyi and Tencent Holdings for allowing content from a Guangzhou-based video producer that depict well-known cartoon characters, such as Peppa Pig and Frozen’s Princess Elsa, in bloody and horrific scenarios.

Separately, SARFT is also investigating Baidu’s Haokan video site for allowing similar videos.

Guangzhou Yijun Trading Company signed separate contracts with Youku and iQiyi in 2016 to show its cartoon movies on their websites via an account called “Happy Disney”, and making a profit of more than 2.2 million yuan (US$347,000), the regulator said.

Tencent Video said in a statement that it has terminated 1,325 accounts and removed more than 250,000 suspicious videos since mid-January.

“Tencent Video is willing to undergo viewer scrutiny and strives to get rid of any inappropriate content on the platform. Children are the future, and Tencent Video will do its best to provide a safe, healthy and happy environment for their development,” the company said.