Internet in China comes under strict control: unlicensed news are strictly prohibited

A new stage of strengthening order in the online information space has begun in China. Cybersecurity authorities in Beijing have moved to strictly restrict unlicensed interviews, news gathering, and publication on the internet. The goal is to prevent the spread of negative sentiment, groundless panic, and conspiracy theories on social networks and websites.

It is reported that the Beijing Cyberspace Administration launched a one-month special campaign to regulate online news in December 2025. This initiative aims to identify violations at an early stage, strengthen the influence of official media outlets, and create a healthy information environment. China Central Television reported this.

As part of the campaign, a number of bans have been introduced. In particular, conducting interviews without a license, collecting, editing, and distributing news, deliberately distorting information, or presenting it out of context will be regarded as violations. The use of misleading accounts, false names, and manipulative photographs will also be closely monitored.

According to officials, these measures are intended to ensure the dominance of reliable information in the online space. The campaign is being carried out under the slogan “Clean capital — clean sources, authentic voice” and includes measures to identify and eliminate all illegal online activities.

At the same time, internet control in China has been steadily intensifying in recent years. Earlier, a separate campaign was launched to protect minors in the online environment, and monitoring of offensive content and cyberattacks was also strengthened. The new steps indicate a further tightening of state control over the information sphere.