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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
In an effort to eradicate fake news from the public space, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has removed over 100,000 online accounts over misrepresentation of news anchors and media agencies.
The cyberspace regulator launched a campaign to clean up online information, focusing on social media accounts that disseminated fake news and impersonated state-controlled media.
The CAC, in a statement posted on its website said it had wiped 107,000 accounts of counterfeit news units and news anchors and 835,000 pieces of fake news information since April 6.
It noted that the cleanup was important as China and countries across the globe had been grappling with fake news coverage online.
The CAC said its review found accounts disguised as authoritative news media by falsifying news studio scenes and imitating professional news presenters, using artificial intelligence to create anchors to mislead the public.
“The CAC will guide online platforms to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the majority of internet users to obtain authoritative and real news,” the regulator said, adding that it encouraged users to provide leads on counterfeit news and anchors.
According to Reuters, China’s government has regularly ordered sweeping measures to scrub the internet of material and language it deemed inappropriate, offensive and a threat to the public and businesses.
Recently, the CAC vowed to crack down on malicious online comments that damage the reputation of businesses and entrepreneurs.
