On Monday, China's top internet regulator unveiled a special plan to eliminate "disorder" in the mobile app sector. The industry has seen a decline in recent years due to both fierce competition and strict regulations. The campaign is designed to bring order and peace among all players in the sector.
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China's Cyberspace Administration recently said it would implement strict restrictions on the entire app industry, from search results and rankings to downloads and usage. The new guidelines were posted on the agency's official WeChat.
The post highlighted a variety of malicious behaviors that need to be addressed, including fake apps, unauthorized user data collection, distribution of malicious content , and excessive pop-up ads. In addition, some practices have been designed to trick users into downloading specific apps or replenishing their bank accounts.
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The watchdog did not specify specific consequences for the violations, but said app distribution platforms would be responsible for correcting any issues. They also assured that they would use “targeted measures” against platforms with serious problems and would execute them “vigorously.”.
In the wake of tight regulation of tech companies and reduced consumer spending due to the economic downturn , the number of apps in China is starting to decline.
Data on mobile applications has been absent from the monthly reports of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology since July, which means that this statistic ,which was initially made available in August 2017, appears for the first time.
Last year, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reported that 930,000 apps were shut down – a staggering number that equates to around 2,500 apps per day.
This year, the number of active apps in China has dropped significantly - at the end of June, there were only 2.32 million apps compared to 4.49 million operating at the end of 2018!
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Monday’s announcement is yet another example of the extensive control that the Cyberspace Administration has established over China’s internet and technology sector, as part of its ongoing mission to create a “clean, healthy cyberspace . ” The agency continues to carry out a series of strict “special actions” aimed at suppressing all forms of online chaos , which includes strict measures to manage conversations among Chinese citizens online .
The presence of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is an important part of ensuring a safe cyberspace for all users in mainland China. By monitoring online activity and enforcing relevant laws on digital communications and privacy protections, among other things, it helps ensure a safe environment for both users and businesses, while also providing citizens with the ability to raise concerns about potential abuses or violations through official channels if necessary. As technology continues to evolve at an ever-increasing pace and more people are connected to digital media than ever before, the existence of organizations like the CAC can help ensure that everyone’s rights are respected, while allowing free expression throughout cyberspace without fear or restriction from any form or source of power.
Information source: scmp.com
