China’s cyberspace regulator drafts new rules to protect minors

People play online games at an internet cafe in Fuyang, Anhui province, China August 20, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer

BEIJING, March 14 (Reuters) – Online gaming, live-streaming, audio and video companies in China should implement a “youth mode” to protect minors, according to draft regulations published on Monday by China Cyberspace Administration.

Major platforms should regularly conduct assessments on the cyber protection of minors to provide them with a “clean” online environment, the CAC said, adding that platforms should also cap the daily spend amount for underage users.

Major Chinese video streaming platforms Tencent Video (0700.HK) and iQIYI (IQ.O), as well as ByteDance-owned short-form video platform Douyin, have already launched a “youth mode” for minors .

Chinese authorities have long been concerned about gambling and internet addiction among young people.

Last year, China introduced new rules that limit the time under-18s can spend playing video games to three hours a week, a move it said was necessary to curb gambling addiction.

Reporting by Yingzhi Yang and Brenda Goh; Editing by Christopher Cushing & Simon Cameron-Moore

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