Chinese Online Content Economy Regulation

Livestreaming Regulation

China’s livestreaming economy — valued at over ¥1.2 trillion in 2025 — is regulated through a dense framework administered by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Commerce. The Regulation on the Management of Internet Livestreaming Services (2020) requires livestreaming platforms to obtain licences, verify the identities of streamers, maintain content review teams, and retain broadcast records for 60 days.

Livestreamers (zhǔbò) must register with platforms using real names and comply with content standards prohibiting obscenity, violence, gambling, and false advertising. The Administrative Measures for Online Performance and Livestreaming (2022) introduced a classification system for streamers, with high-risk streamers subject to enhanced monitoring and restricted hours. Platforms that permit violations may face fines, suspension of operations, or revocation of licences. E-commerce livestreamers (dài huò zhǔbò) are additionally regulated under the E-Commerce Law, requiring clear disclosure of paid promotions and product authenticity guarantees.

Algorithm Recommendation Rules

The Internet Information Service Algorithmic Recommendation Regulation (2022) imposes specific obligations on platforms that use algorithmic recommendation systems to distribute content. The Regulation requires: (1) user registration of algorithms with the CAC; (2) disclosure of the basic principles and main purposes of recommendation mechanisms; (3) provision of user options to opt out of personalised recommendations; (4) prevention of algorithm-driven information cocoons and echo chambers; and (5) prohibition of algorithm-based differential pricing (shā shú or big data blackbox pricing).

Platforms that recommend news content must prioritise official state media sources and comply with the Provisions on the Administration of Internet News Information Services. The Regulation also requires platforms to maintain algorithm transparency reports and to submit to algorithm audits. Non-compliance can result in fines up to ¥100,000 and orders to modify or cease use of the offending algorithm.

Online Short Video Regulation

Short video platforms — including Douyin (TikTok), Kuaishou, and Weishi — are regulated under the Administrative Provisions on Internet Short Video Services (2019). The Provisions require short video platforms to: implement content review before publication; verify the identity of content creators; label AI-generated or synthetic content; and comply with time limits on content intended for minors.

The CAC and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) jointly regulate short video content standards, requiring that videos not contain content that threatens national security, undermines social stability, or violates socialist core values. Short video platforms must establish content review departments with sufficient staffing and implement keyword filtering, image recognition, and automated review systems. The NRTA has issued guidance prohibiting the dissemination of unverified news, promotion of excessive consumption, and content that glorifies unhealthy lifestyles.

Douyin (TikTok) Regulation

Douyin, as the dominant short video platform in China, is subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny. The platform must comply with specific content management requirements under the Douyin Content Management Agreement, which incorporates regulatory standards issued by the CAC and NRTA. Douyin operates under a 2021 regulatory settlement that required the platform to: (1) strengthen content review for minors; (2) implement anti-addiction measures including daily time limits; (3) restrict livestreaming to verified adult users; and (4) increase transparency in content moderation.

Douyin’s ownership by ByteDance also subjects the platform to China’s Data Security Law and Personal Information Protection Law, requiring data localisation, cross-border data transfer security assessments, and user consent for data processing. The platform has been required to limit the recommendation of certain content categories and to cooperate with government information requests. Douyin’s international version, TikTok, operates under separate legal frameworks but must navigate the implications of Chinese data regulations for its global operations.

Online Gaming Restrictions

Online gaming in China is subject to some of the strictest regulatory controls globally. The Measures for the Administration of Online Games (2010, revised 2019) require game publishers to obtain approval from the NRTA, implement real-name registration, and limit the playtime of minors. The 2021 gaming restrictions, issued by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), limit minors to one hour of online gaming on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays (8–9 PM), with a total weekly cap of three hours.

Game content must comply with the content review standards that prohibit glorification of violence, gambling, pornography, and subversion of state power. The licensing freeze of 2018 and subsequent strict approval quotas have significantly reduced the number of new games entering the Chinese market. Game publishers must obtain a Game Publication Licence (yóuxì bǎn hào) through a process that includes substantive content review by the NPPA.

Addictive Content Prevention

China has enacted comprehensive addictive content prevention (chéngyǐn fángzhì) regulations targeting algorithm-driven content that may cause excessive use or psychological dependence. The Regulation on the Protection of Minors in Cyberspace (2024) requires platforms to implement minor mode (wèi chéngnián rén móshì), limiting minors’ daily usage to 40 minutes for short video platforms, restricting access between 10 PM and 6 AM, and disabling rewards and tipping functions.

Platforms must conduct algorithmic ethics reviews to assess the addictive potential of their recommendation systems and must provide users with tools to control their usage, including time reminders, usage dashboards, and options to disable personalised recommendations. The CAC has designated addictive content as a regulatory priority and has required platforms to modify or disable features that the CAC determines contribute to excessive use, including infinite scroll, autoplay, and reward-based engagement loops. Non-compliance can result in fines, service suspension, and personal liability for platform executives.