Campaign targets online fraud via platforms, apps

Chinese authorities have launched a new campaign targeting illegal activity on apps and online platforms, especially those that advertise social services but are actually linked to scams and adult content.

The campaign will focus on a range of popular apps and platforms, including those centered on e-commerce, short videos, livestreaming and dating, according to a Cyberspace Administration of China statement released on Thursday.

The decision to launch the crackdown follows reports that some apps offering services such as travel companionship, friendship and home rentals are instead involved in fraud or the dissemination of explicit content.

The two-month operation, led by the CAC, aims to improve online safety and strengthen protection for internet users.

In a recent case on Tuesday, police in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region arrested nine people linked to a group allegedly using chat and dating services as fronts for fraud, recovering over 230,000 yuan ($32,300) in stolen funds.

Earlier this year, police in Hunan province investigated a dating app scam where men were reportedly deceived into paying for interactions with female hosts posing as friends or romantic partners. Authorities have since detained 171 suspects and seized funds totaling over 80 million yuan by the end of August.

Alongside its focus on fraudulent platforms, the CAC said it would also intensify scrutiny of online discussions on sensitive topics, including housing, education, healthcare and food safety. The campaign will target users who spread rumors, insult or defame related departments or provoke public unrest through fabricated content.

The administration has called on websites, apps and platforms to enhance content quality, urging local cyberspace regulators to tighten oversight. The CAC, China's top internet regulator, has increased efforts in recent years to clean up cyberspace and protect users' rights, particularly those of minors.

In July, the CAC launched a campaign focused on children's rights online. By early October, it had removed over 4.3 million harmful posts involving minors, penalized over 130,000 internet accounts and shut down more than 2,000 websites and platforms.