China rips into Tencent’s news service, killing 9,300 mobile apps
- The Cyberspace Administration of China has scrubbed the web of more than seven million items since January 3
China is stepping up its efforts to rein in the country’s internet, singling out Tencent Holdings’ popular news app for spreading vulgar information while shutting down more than 700 websites and thousands of apps in the span of just three weeks.
The Cyberspace Administration of China has scrubbed the web of more than 7 million items since January 3, deleting more than 9,300 smartphone apps to screen out information deemed inappropriate or harmful, the watchdog said in a notice distributed to media.
Tencent’s Tian Tian Kuai Bao, which means “quick daily news”, was singled out for spreading “vulgar and lowbrow content that was harmful and damaging to the internet ecosystem”, the agency said.
The latest raft of shutdowns, part of a six-month campaign intended to eradicate “vulgarity” from the domestic internet, stands out for its scale and speed.
Baidu and Sohu.com were ordered to suspend a plethora of news services just weeks ago.