Amid the growing spread of misinformation online and the increasing difficulty of controlling it on social media platforms, China has taken a decisive step to tighten regulations on content shared in sensitive fields. The Chinese authorities have announced a new set of strict laws prohibiting content creators from publishing material related to medicine, finance, law, or education unless they possess professional qualifications or official certifications proving their expertise in these areas.
According to the new regulations announced by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) — the agency responsible for regulating the country’s digital space — popular social media platforms such as Bilibili, Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), and Weibo will be required to strictly comply with the new rules. These measures oblige influencers and content creators to provide scientific evidence and studies supporting their claims and to clearly disclose whether any part of their content was created or modified using artificial intelligence.
The CAC also emphasized a ban on disguised advertisements, including those that promote dietary supplements or medical services under the guise of educational or informative content, arguing that such practices mislead the public and endanger their well-being.
This move comes as part of a broader campaign launched earlier this year, lasting two months, aimed at combating hostile, pessimistic, and violent content circulating online, in an effort to maintain a safe and stable digital environment.
In a related context, a recent study conducted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) revealed that only 36.9% of influencers verify the accuracy of the information they share before posting it — a finding that raises serious concerns about the credibility of online content. The concern was further amplified by a report from the Pew Research Center in the United States, which found that one in five young Americans now relies on TikTok as a primary news source — highlighting the growing influence of social media platforms on shaping the awareness of younger generations.
Through these regulatory efforts, China aims to establish strict standards for digital content and ensure that the information reaching the public is reliable, evidence-based, and free from misinformation — at a time when the internet has become a central source of news and knowledge for millions.
