China ramps up crackdown on online harmful content and AI‑generated toxic media

The Ministry of Public Security reported that, since the start of the year, Chinese police have investigated more than 8,000 cases of online rumors, shut down over 23,000 illegal accounts and removed more than 500,000 pieces of harmful information. The crackdown targets a range of violations, including network water‑army activity, online violence, counterfeit sites and the misuse of personal data.

On the platform side, Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) announced the permanent banning of thousands of accounts for AI‑generated “toxic” animations, soft‑porn chat services aimed at minors, and content encouraging self‑harm. The company removed over 84,000 offending posts, 105,000 comments and 3,571 accounts as part of its “Clear‑Net · Minor Protection” campaign, and also cleared unsafe travel‑related information.

Both efforts are part of a broader “net‑cleaning” initiative coordinated with the Central Cyberspace Administration, aiming to strengthen personal‑information protection, curb misinformation and create a safer online environment for Chinese users.