China Bans More Showbiz Social Media Accounts
Yicai Global
DATE:  Jun 09 2017
/ SOURCE:  Yicai
China Bans More Showbiz Social Media Accounts China Bans More Showbiz Social Media Accounts

(Yicai Global) June 9 -- Following shutting down 60 paparazzi and celebrity news accounts on various social media sites and apps, China's cyberspace regulator ordered the closure of another 25 official WeChat accounts publishing celebrity news and gossips. Among the accounts ordered to close are those belonging to well-known life-style publications such as Bazaar and Southern Metropolis Entertainment Weekly of Nanfang Media Group and citizen journalism-type accounts like 'Yansu Bagua'(Serious Gossip) and 'Dushe Dianying '(Acerbic Reviews).

The Beijing Cyberspace Administration contacted Weibo Corp. [NASDAQ:WB], Toutiao.com, Tencent Holdings Ltd. [HK:0700], Baidu Inc. [NASDAQ:BIDU] and many other mainstream platforms yesterday, ordering them to take steps to control public accounts disseminating gews and gossips about celebrities and others. It reminded them of the new cyberspace law that came into effect on June 1 requires websites and online publications not to harm reputation of celebrities and individuals. The accounts banned also included those of 'China's first paparazzo,' Zhuo Wei, who has more than seven million followers on his Sina Weibo account.

The Cyber Security Law of the People's Republic of China prohibits individuals or organizations from using the Internet to infringe others' reputations, privacy, intellectual property rights and other lawful rights and interests, the office said in a statement.

Dushe Dianying recently completed its series A financing led by Bertelsmann Asia Investment Fund, and its current valuation is said to be around CNY300 million (USD44 million).

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Keywords:   Social Media,MEDIA,Tech,Regulator,Cyberspace,Administration,Shutdown,Social Media Account,Paparazzi,Wechat,Weibo