China launches summer campaign to clean up internet for minors

In a recent nationwide notice, the Cyberspace Administration of China said it will launch a special campaign to create a cleaner cyberspace environment for minors during the two months of the summer vacation in July and August.

The campaign will focus on addressing seven prominent issues related to minors online, such as hidden and disguised harmful content, cyberbullying, cyber pornography, cyber fraud, harmful content, internet addiction and risks of new technologies and new applications.

Accordingly, the campaign will crack down on illegal activities that infringe upon the rights and interests of minors, eliminate platforms and individuals that share harmful content online, effectively address the problem of internet addiction, and create an online environment conducive to the healthy and safe growth of minors.

Artificial intelligence (AI) applications used to alter faces and create graphic artworks were also mentioned in the notice, as these applications are powered by new technologies and have the potential to lead to the creation of pornographic and vulgar content involving minors.

Cyberspace authorities across China have been reminded to resolutely and strictly implement the requirements issued by the central authority during the campaign. Violations of laws and regulations related to minors will be severely punished, such as banning, closing and blacklisting illegal accounts, and taking down and shutting down websites and platforms that cause serious problems. Typical cases will be made public to serve as a deterrent.

Meanwhile, on June 29, many Chinese online game publishers such as Tencent, NetEase and Mihoyo announced the “Restricted Gaming Schedule for Minors During Summer Vacation”. Accordingly, during the summer vacation from July to August, minors in China will only be allowed to play games for a total of 26 hours. This means that this year's summer vacation has 26 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and the average playing time limit is 1 hour per day.

In addition to releasing the gaming restriction schedule, NetEase also said that it will use “AI patrol officers” to help identify minors’ gaming behavior during the summer vacation. Previously, Tencent Games also applied AI technology to the field of minor protection, through machine learning to judge whether a player is a minor or not and conduct a second verification using AI facial recognition technology, to reduce the situation of minors registering adult accounts to play games.