China’s internet regulator tightens screw on online speech as it targets ‘detested’ public comments on news websites

China’s internet regulator has vowed to crack down on online comment sections of news websites and social media platforms it says disrupt information dissemination and harm the healthy environment for public opinion – as it tightens another screw on the already heavily controlled online speech.

Ren Xianliang, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, said chaotic online comments were “extremely detested” by the public and there was a need for “great efforts to crack down [on them]”, according to a statement posted on the administration’s website on Tuesday night.

Ren urged the news websites to clean up comments that violated the official “nine don’ts and seven bottom lines” – including endangering state security, challenging socialism and inciting ethnic hatred.

Such cyberspace regulations have seen vocal online celebrities being silenced.

Ren also urged the websites to make it easier for people to report “harmful” information by building a mechanism for the public to supervise one another’s comments.

Meanwhile, he asked the websites to launch an extensive campaign to post positive and rational comments” to foster a “healthy and well-intentioned” online culture.