Websites urged to help combat online infringement

China's top internet watchdog has launched a two-month nationwide campaign to crack down on online activities that infringe upon the legitimate rights of enterprises, including defamation, slander and extortion.

The campaign, announced on Thursday by the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, urges websites and social media platforms to improve their handling of corporate-related complaints and better protect the online rights and interests of businesses and entrepreneurs.

According to the notice, the campaign targets illegal online behaviors such as fabricating false information, attacking product quality, smearing company reputations and filing malicious complaints.

So-called "troll farms" — groups hired to post fake comments, manipulate public opinion or publish harmful content about competitors — are also in the crosshairs. These groups often demand payment to delete negative posts or time damaging claims to coincide with major company events such as product launches or financing rounds in an attempt to pressure firms into cooperation.

The campaign will also address malicious marketing and disinformation campaigns that distort public corporate data, including shareholding structures and financial disclosures.

It aims to stop activities that disrupt regular business operations, such as filming live broadcasts or short videos at company premises under the guise of rights protection.

The initiative is part of efforts to implement the newly enacted Private Economy Promotion Law, which took effect on Tuesday.

The law prohibits individuals or organizations from using the internet to insult or defame private enterprises or their operators.

Internet service providers are required to enhance content moderation, improve complaint and reporting systems, and promptly remove illegal content that infringes on the rights of private businesses.

The regulator called on online platforms to refine review standards for enterprise-related content, tighten oversight of trending topics, and bolster the day-to-day management of accounts that publish financial information.