Beijing Tightens Grip On Social Media Giants

New rules tightening Chinese government restrictions on the country's internet companies have come into effect, raising concerns about their application, as reported by João da Silva for BBC News.

The expanded State Secrets Law compels firms, including social media giants Tencent, ByteDance, and Weibo, to take action if users post sensitive information. I Photo: bfishadow Flickr

The expanded State Secrets Law compels firms, including social media giants Tencent, ByteDance, and Weibo, to take action if users post sensitive information. It mandates "network operators" to monitor information shared by users, outlining procedures for post removal, record-keeping, and reporting to authorities.

This update, the law's first in over a decade, aligns with President Xi Jinping's emphasis on national security amid a government crackdown on China's vast technology industry.

When announced in February, a National Administration of State Secrets Protection (NASSP) official told state news agency Xinhua the rules were necessary due to "new problems and challenges" in safeguarding state secrets.

While internet companies in China already face strict regulations, the changes "set a new standard for active self-monitoring and rapid cooperation," stated Hong Kong-based law professor Ryan Mitchell.

The revised rules broaden the definition of sensitive information to include "work secrets," potentially posing challenges for journalists, including foreign correspondents.