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Regulation
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Regulation. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The investigation follows years of complaints about data-driven price discrimination and rising commissions, according to analysts. Photo: Shutterstock
China travel

China’s Trip.com probe targets algorithms, prices after vendor anger: analysts

Regulators accuse one of the world’s biggest travel platforms of abusing market power, with analysts warning of wider industry scrutiny.

Malaysia

‘Lame excuse’: Malaysia’s parliament tightens access rules for media interviews

Artificial intelligence

China-founded Shanda’s AI lab boosts Singapore operation, pulling China research

Low-altitude economy

Shanghai to open ‘free-to-fly’ zones covering 46% of city for consumer drones

From February 1, consumer drones will be allowed to fly in designated airspace under new rules to boost the city’s low-altitude economy.

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A drone flies over The Bund in central Shanghai in the evening. Photo: Shutterstock
E-commerce

China fines e-commerce firm PDD for tax violations amid probe

Operator of leading online retail platform was cited for failure to comply with Shanghai’s tax requirements.

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European Union

Opinion | An internally split Europe can never fully engage China and Asia

The Brussels effect is real but so is Europe’s strategic subordination to the US. For China, and Asia, this means proceeding with pragmatism.

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China’s crackdowns

China targets wealthy influencers with audits, fines as fiscal pressures rise

Big data is used to flag income gaps for top online stars and overseas earners, as regulators recover billions in unpaid levies amid slumping land sales and value-added tax revenue decline.

China is cracking down on live-streamers who are not paying their fair share of taxes. Photo: Shutterstock
Trip.com

Beijing opens antitrust investigation into Trip.com before Lunar New Year break

The Trip.com case shows how China’s regulatory inquiries into various online platforms have become the norm.

US-China tech war

Editorial | Review of Meta-Manus deal a reminder of what’s at stake in US-China rivalry

As Chinese firms look abroad, the authorities have to balance intellectual property protection and national security against commercial interests.

China deflation

China’s solar firms, once deemed too competitive, now face monopoly accusations

Major producers are suspected of using Beijing’s anti-involution campaign as an excuse to rig prices.

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Workers carry solar panels at a solar farm under construction in China’s northwestern Ningxia region. Photo: Reuters
Australia

Australian social media ban: Meta shuts 550,000 children’s accounts

Australia’s ban on social media usage for under 16s, a world’s first, came into effect on December 10.

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Logos of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp apps are displayed on a smartphone in front of Meta’s logo. Photo: dpa
Hong Kong transport

Over 1,000 apply as online slots for test-free Hong Kong driving licence go fast

Post reporter tried to secure spot at 7am but was met with a digital bottleneck that saw all available slots snapped up in just over 30 minutes.

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Indonesia

Asian Angle | Indonesia’s digital 2045 ambition rests on a fragile seabed spine

With few domestic repair ships and convoluted laws, Indonesia struggles to safeguard the 115,000km of cables powering its digital future.

Artificial intelligence

Dose of uncertainty: experts wary of AI health tech gadgets at CES trade show

Technology and health experts question the accuracy of these products and warn of data privacy issues.

People try out the Bodyfriend 733 Healthcare Robot at the CES trade show in Las Vegas on January 6, 2026. Photo: AP
Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek to customise namesake chatbot for Italian users following probe

The firm agrees to a package of commitments, including tackling AI model ‘hallucination’ issues, with the Italian Competition Authority.

The Italian Competition Authority praised DeepSeek for committing to lower the hallucination rate of its AI models through technical fixes. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | With Hetao tech hub, Hong Kong is reimagining its economic future

The city is pivoting towards hi-tech development and greater cross-border integration while committing to innovation ecosystem synergy.

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Artificial intelligence

Opinion | Why reducing AI harm requires more than tech firms’ empty promises

Real action incurs real cost, which is why incentives and regulatory frameworks for tech firms matter.

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Hong Kong economy

Opinion | How Hong Kong can complement Hainan’s free-trade port

Jointly designed customs rules could be used in pilot schemes to smooth the customs process for international business.

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People look at phones in the Haikou International Duty Free Shopping Complex in Hainan province, on December 18, the day China launched island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan free-trade port. Photo: Xinhua
Malaysia

Malaysia moves to regulate WhatsApp, Facebook and others under online safety law

The decision to deem major platforms licensed regardless of application closes a regulatory gap, but questions remain over enforcement.

Banking & finance

Opinion | To harness crypto ingenuity, financial threat must first be neutralised

Future of money must be shaped by competition between private ingenuity and public purpose, not by rent seeking and speculative bubbles.

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China manufacturing

China bolsters e-cigarette regulations to smoke out non-compliance

The draft policy would cut down on excess capacity within e-cigarette sector and tighten enforcement of standards in production and export.

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China, producer of most of the world’s e-cigarettes, has introduced new regulatory guidelines for the industry. Photo: Getty Images
South Korea

In South Korea, vouchers to curb county’s falling population draw new residents

Officials in Okcheon, however, are looking to identify fake residents who change addresses without moving in.

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An angler fishing with the background of Sangchunjeong pavilion in Okcheon in North Chungcheong province, South Korea. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong to broaden crypto rules with new licences for dealers and custodians

New frameworks mooted for virtual asset dealing and custodian services, as Hong Kong forges ahead with plans to become a digital-asset hub.

Cybersecurity

China’s Kuaishou hit by breach as explicit content floods live-streaming rooms

Short-video platform’s services are thrown into chaos on Monday night after the cyberattack it blames on ‘black and grey industries’.

E-commerce

China bans e-commerce platforms from forcing lowest prices or abusing algorithms

Beijing moves to protect consumers and merchants, with new 29-article regulation tightening oversight of the fast-growing digital economy.

The new rules prohibit e-commerce operators from forcing merchants to offer discounts. Photo: Shutterstock
China-EU relations

Discriminatory and egregious: China blasts EU’s subsidy crackdown

Commerce authorities vow to defend firms such as Nuctech and CRRC, while Beijing continues talks with Brussels over EV tariffs.

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The CRRC booth is seen in the advanced manufacturing section of the China International Supply Chain Expo in July. The train maker was probed by Brussels last month. Photo: Xinhua
Australia

Why Southeast Asia’s move to protect children online may fuel state surveillance

Measures to rein in tech companies risk opening the door to tighter state oversight of online platforms, analysts say.

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E-commerce

No ‘lowest-price’ requirement: China warns platforms on monopolistic tactics

Regulators tell platforms that demanding the ‘lowest price’ from vendors may not be permitted under new draft guidelines.

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