China’s internet censor closed over 4,000 websites and removed 55 apps

Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Chinese internet watchdog, has shut down 4,200 sites and removed 55 apps from app stores. In a press statement, it also summoned more than 2,200 websites to rectify their content.

Since 2016, China has been running an annual campaign to ‘clean up’ the Chinese cyberspace. Reasons for banning or shutdowns vary from promoting unauthorised politically related content and news services to spreading ‘harmful information’ such as superstitions, gambling, prostitution, pornography, and illegal lending. China has tightened its control of the internet also in an attempt to limit Western influence. To date, major platforms such as Bing.com, Baidu, Sina Weibo, Douyu, and Douban have been fined for failing to supervise information posted by users.

The Cyberspace Administration also seeks on-site inspections through provincial and prefecture-level enforcement teams.