China's cybersecurity regulator said on Wednesday that apps that have the ability to influence public opinion should undergo security checks.
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The move marks another step by Beijing to control and monitor information on China's already highly censored internet
It is unclear which regulators consider features or technologies that could influence public opinion.
The latest rules are part of a draft regulation issued by the increasingly powerful Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) on Wednesday, which seeks to set a framework for how app makers operate.
Application providers must not use their software to engage in activities that endanger national security or disrupt social order, the rules say.
Any news information apps must also obtain a license, which is subject to scrutiny by regulators, the CAC said. China's news landscape is largely state-backed and already heavily censored.
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Over the past year, China has tightened regulations on its domestic technology sector in areas ranging from antitrust to cybersecurity.
The new CAC document brings together previous laws and regulations into one set of rules — although many of them are not new.
For example, app makers must have strong data protection. China had already passed a law on personal data protection.
Users must also register on the app using their real ID, according to Wednesday's draft rules. This has been the case for some time in China, where real ID is linked to state-issued ID cards and mobile phone numbers
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The cybersecurity regulator said the rules are open to public comment and will come into effect this year, but no exact date has been given.
Information source: cnbc.com
