China targets algorithms from the likes of Tencent, ByteDance as crackdown persists
- The Cyberspace Administration of China will conduct on-site inspections of firms and ask them to submit their various services for review
- One of the greatest areas of uncertainty for investors involves Beijing’s intentions for the country’s vast social media sector
China kicked off a formal campaign to rein in the potential abuse of algorithms by internet giants from ByteDance to Tencent Holdings, taking aim at the way social media platforms serve up ads and content to hook users.
The Cyberspace Administration of China will conduct on-site inspections of firms and ask them to submit their various services for review, the internet watchdog said in a statement Friday. Large-scale websites, platforms and products with big influence will be targeted, it said, without naming any.
The campaign is aimed at implementing and enforcing sweeping rules unveiled in August governing the industry’s use of algorithms to surface content for users, which took effect last month. It is part of a broader effort that started in late 2020 to curtail the widening influence of China’s largest and richest corporations, whose platforms now control every sphere of public discourse and entertainment.
China’s algorithm law to curb Big Tech’s sway in public opinion
A barrage of regulations covering everything from gaming and online education to video censorship has since spooked the industry and prompted a shift in priorities to core growth versus unbridled expansion. The cyber-watchdog said in a subsequent statement it interviewed representatives from a dozen companies including Tencent, Alibaba Group Holding, Meituan and JD.com to address job cuts totalling 216,800 from July to mid-March – a prime concern for Beijing given the potentially destabilising effect on the broader economy.
The agency highlighted that the companies actually hired 295,900 people over the same period, a net increase. Yet competition for jobs in the tech industry remains fierce and employers are willing to shell out to attract or retain top-flight talent. Tencent doled out more than US$200 million apiece to two unidentified executives in 2021, even as it cut founder Pony Ma Huateng’s compensation for a year in which Beijing’s crackdown sent Tencent’s stock down by 19 per cent.
Investors, which wiped out more than US$1 trillion of Chinese tech stock value at the height of the crackdown, remain cautious this year. On Friday, Tencent was down about 1.8 per cent, while video streaming firm Bilibili was among the worst performers in Hong Kong. Meituan also weighed on the gauge, following news Sequoia Capital had reduced its stake in the food delivery giant.
One of the greatest areas of uncertainty for investors involves Beijing’s intentions for the country’s vast social media sector – an arena dominated by Tencent and ByteDance.
The government has always maintained an iron grip on the industry, rooting out dissent and other forms of undesirable content that could undermine its rule. But while various agencies have targeted reckless competition in online commerce and ride-hailing during the crackdown, they’ve yet to level specific sanctions against the social media leaders.
Beijing’s grip on content algorithms takes propaganda into the 21st Century
Regulators proposed far-reaching restrictions on content algorithms back in August to forbid practices that encourage online addiction, as well as any activities that endanger national security or disrupt social order.
In its 30-point proposal, the government asked that companies disclose the basic principles of any algorithm recommendation service and provide convenient options for turning off algorithm recommendations. It also said algorithms must adhere to “mainstream values” and “actively spread positive energy.”
Tech industry algorithms have been at the heart of political controversies around the world. Facebook and Google have been accused of serving up news stories and videos that exacerbate political polarisation and fuel violence. While the US government has had limited success in forcing changes, Beijing’s regulators have substantial power.
In February, Beijing’s internet watchdog launched a website where algorithm providers who influence public opinion or mobilise the masses can submit their services for record-keeping.
Companies including ByteDance and Tencent have made tweaks to their products following Beijing’s effort to protect personal privacy, for example, by offering users a way to opt-out of artificial intelligence recommendations on apps like short video service Douyin and messaging platform WeChat.
