World: China internet watchdog on Saturday stated that it will ban some mobile app notifications and tighten regulations as the government ramps up a campaign to rein in the growing influence of internet companies over its citizens’ daily lives.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) will strengthen guidance and control of mobile app information sources, and restrict notification volumes as part of what it terms a “people’s war” aimed at bringing order to the online environment, Xie Dengke, a CAC spokesperson quoted to a State Council press conference.
As per the notice, all media related mobile applications sending notifications from independent social media accounts operating in violation of regulations will be banned. All harmful and undesirable content will also be filtered during the restriction
Xie did not name specific mobile applications or social media accounts affected by the new rules. However, Xie said,” CAC will coalesce with financial regulators to “rectify” self-published financial accounts that have spread rumours, to bring the dissemination of financial information under control.” The mobile applications are given a window to self-inspect themselves beyond which they will be punished for not meeting certain requirements with penalties including fines and service suspensions.
China has sought to curb the economic and social power of its once loosely regulated internet giants, in a clampdown ordered by President Xi Jinping.