In recent news, several internet giants such as ByteDance and Alibaba have been successively summoned by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), with their news and information products’ hot search and hot list businesses being pointed out for issues and subsequently subjected to punitive measures. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) media stated that the hot search list affects cognition, stirs up emotions, must adhere to the correct guidance, and has sparked widespread attention.
On September 27th, the CCP’s official newspaper, People’s Daily, published a commentary criticizing the Cyberspace Administration for summoning multiple internet platforms consecutively and imposing a series of penalties, revealing the so-called three major problems of “fake, chaotic, and biased” in the hot search and hot list features.
The article claims that the hot search and hot list are driven by algorithms, merely reflecting “popularity” without considering values. It emphasizes the importance of preventing these platforms from becoming channels for rumors, internet bullying, and anxiety, stating that “the algorithm is written by people, of course, it should be accountable and supervised by people.” It stresses that the hot search and hot list must not become conduits for misinformation or negativity, as this is the bottom line.
The previous day, the overseas edition of People’s Daily, through its WeChat account “Xiake Island,” released an article titled “Why Have These Internet Giants Been Summoned Collectively,” revealing that the CAC instructed the cyberspace administrations in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, and other regions to take measures such as summoning and ordering rectification against several major internet platforms due to issues found in their hot search and main list contents.
In recent times, platforms such as Xiaohongshu, Weibo, Kwai, Jinri Toutiao, and UC, among others, have all been summoned by the CAC and have been directed to rectify their operations, with warnings and stricter handling of responsible individuals.
The CCP has once again tightened its control over online content, prompting skepticism and criticism from the online community.
Some netizens, commenting on the overseas social media platform X, expressed their concerns, stating, “No spontaneous order is allowed. What was originally a scientific issue has turned into a political matter, resulting in a problem of lies! Democracy, freedom, rule of law still face a long and arduous road ahead!” They criticized the CCP’s approach to guiding hot search results, interpreting it as prioritizing content the leadership cares about rather than what the public is interested in.
“Hot search must conform to the party’s principles!” “This means that cognition should be monopolized by the Communist Party. Cults indeed excel at infiltrating the mind, heart, and soul.” The escalating internet censorship by the CCP has sparked widespread debate and concern over the direction of online freedom and expression.