Why Chinese entities are turning to People’s Daily censorship AI to avoid political mines

Companies, organisations and even individuals are increasingly using content moderation services to pre-screen online material

Experts predict that the use of artificial intelligence to identify risks will only grow, but could the technology miss ‘implicit’ meanings?

Reading Time:7 minutes

Vanessa Caiin ShanghaiandSylvie Zhuangin Beijing

Published: 6:00am, 17 Jul 2023Updated: 12:12pm, 17 Jul 2023

There are many ways Chinese companies, public institutes and celebrities can find themselves in hot water when posting content online for public consumption.

A map that misrepresents Beijing’s South China Sea claims, the unintended inclusion of a disgraced official in a picture, or any hint of an obscure political taboo can lead to consequences, as a number of cases in recent years have shown.

Beijing’s internet regulator can impose penalties, including hefty fines, and a business can be partially suspended without warning. For singers, film stars and television personalities, careers can be ended by an online slip.

To make matters worse, perceived offenders can be boycotted by angry internet users. The online community is also policed by nationalistic voices and even business competitors looking for the chance to torpedo a rival.

The situation has led to the emergence of content moderation with Chinese characteristics, with numerous data companies available to screen material before it reaches the public sphere.

People’s Daily – mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party and arguably best placed to identify Beijing’s shifting and often vague red lines – is also offering to sell its expertise to companies wishing to eliminate potential political risks.

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