China cracks down on AI deepfakes and clickbait cluttering WeChat, RedNote, Douyin

China's Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it removed more than 5.61 million pieces of harmful or illegal content and deleted about 49,000 accounts in a crackdown on AI-generated 'slop' across 2,400 websites and apps, including Douyin, Kuaishou, RedNote, and Tencent Holdings' WeChat. The campaign targeted AI-driven fake news, explicit material, impersonation, and safety violations involving minors, reflecting Beijing's concerns over generative AI abuse.

Advertisement China cracks down on AI deepfakes and clickbait cluttering WeChat, RedNote, Douyin Clampdown sweeps across 2,400 websites and apps as cyberspace watchdog escalates fight against generative tech abuse 1-MIN READ1-MIN Listen Ben Jiang /author/ben-jiang in Beijing China is cracking down on artificial intelligence https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3366018/chinese-internet-giants-set-reap-artificial-intelligence-profits-2-3-years-ubs?module=inline&pgtype=article -generated “slop” – low-grade, mass-produced synthetic content cluttering social media and news feeds – as part of a sweeping campaign against generative technology abuse, the country’s top internet watchdog said on Wednesday.In a statement posted to its website, the Cyberspace Administration of China https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3356065/china-bans-11-online-activities-under-tighter-rules-curb-rumours-cyberbullies?module=inline&pgtype=article CAC said it had scrubbed more than 5.61 million pieces of harmful or illegal content and removed some 49,000 accounts during its latest enforcement drive.The clampdown swept up 2,400 websites and apps, targeting some of China’s biggest digital spaces, including TikTok’s sister app Douyin and rival Kuaishou, as well as RedNote and Tencent Holdings’ WeChat https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3364068/i-gave-tencents-wechat-ai-agent-control-24-hours-where-it-excelled-and-stumbled?module=inline&pgtype=article . Authorities focused on reining in AI-driven fake news, explicit and violent material, impersonation and safety violations involving minors. The response underscores Beijing’s growing concerns over the accessibility of generative AI https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3364949/tech-paradox-fear-being-left-behind-drives-china-non-programmers-build-own-ai-tools?module=inline&pgtype=article . As tools become cheaper and more sophisticated, creators can produce convincing deepfakes and clickbait in seconds, challenging existing moderation systems.The CAC said creators on Douyin, Kuaishou and WeChat used AI to turn literary classics such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Journey to the West into sensationalised, low-grade slop to attract traffic. Advertisement Select Voice Select Speed 1.00x