Notice on Launching Special Action "Clear and Bright" to Rectify Fake Information by Social Media

EACH PROVINCE, AUTONOMOUS REGION, DIRECT-ADMINISTERED MUNICIPALITY PARTY COMMITTEE CYBER SPACE BUREAU AND XIANGGAN PRODUCTION CONSTRUCTION CORPS PARTY COMMITTEE CYBER SPACE BUREAU:

To continue to deepen the rectification of fake information by social media and further standardize the publishing behavior of social media, in accordance with the overall arrangement for the "Clear and Bright" series special actions in 2025, the Central Cyber Space Administration has decided to launch a two-month special action called "Clear and Bright Rectify Fake Information by Social Media" nationwide starting from July 24th.

One, Work Goal

To implement the important thought of Xi Jinping on network power, further implement the spirit of the Party's 20th National Congress and the 3rd Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, through the special action, concentrate on rectifying fake information by social media, severely cracking down on malicious rumors, multiple means to distort facts, not doing mark annotation with false information, professional field information is not real, etc. issues, guide website platforms to establish and improve technical identification and discovery, information source annotation and professional qualification certification mechanisms, further standardize the operating behavior of social media, and continuously create a clear and bright online space.

Two, Rectification Focus

The special action will focus on rectifying four types of prominent issues:

1. Malicious rumors misleading the public. When involving hot topics or public figures, fake identities are created through account names, profiles, etc., and hotspots are hyped, confusing the public. In major events or emergency situations, fake personas are created to provide false information on causes, progress, casualties, etc., disrupting public opinion. Important field information is released, and false information such as "authoritative reports", "first-hand data", "in-depth investigations" is fabricated, misleading cognition.

2. Multiple means to distort facts. Using artificial intelligence generation synthesis technology, fake identities are created or social life information is fabricated to deceive the public. Through dramatic editing, cutting and pasting, events are created or exaggerated, attracting attention. Policy guidelines and regulations are misinterpreted, spreading false information about "soon to be cancelled" and "major changes", creating noise. Old news and policy announcements are excerpted, hiding time, place, and result key elements, maliciously hyping them. Using online gray production channels, through search rankings, presenting fake information and controlling the rankings.

3. No mark annotation with false information. Without marking or accurately marking the source of information, involving domestic and foreign news, public policies, social events, etc. relevant information is released, without actual basis content. Incorrect information sources are marked or matrix accounts refer to each other, making it difficult for the public to track the true source. With tiny font size, hidden position, progress bar hiding, the annotation identifier is deliberately weakened.

4. Professional field information not real. No professional qualification certification or fake certification is used to claim expertise in fields such as finance, medicine, law, etc. Misinterpreting professional content, fabricating or altering true case details, releasing unverified or obviously contrary to scientific common sense information, and creating different historical figures and events are made to match, falsifying history.

Three, Work Requirements

1. Strengthen organizational guidance. Each local cyber space administration should strengthen its political stance, prioritize problem-oriented work, guide website platforms to focus on social media publishing fake information typical issues and various hidden variations, according to the special action work requirements, and carry out content review and account management mechanisms. Strengthen "social media" education guidance and continuously do well in detecting and processing violations.

2. Improve annotation mechanism. Optimize information source annotation, artificial intelligence generation synthesis content identification settings, providing annotation options in the information publishing process, making it convenient for users to perform corresponding annotations and identifying. Unannotated information shall not enter the algorithmic recommendation content pool.

3. Complete qualification certification. According to work requirements, refine and optimize professional qualification certification processes, guiding "social media" to conduct professional qualification certifications according to requirements, and displaying certified fields, identities, and actual business operations in a way that protects personal information. Establish dynamic verification mechanisms to ensure that "social media" account names, main body qualifications, and displayed information match the actual operation.

4. Strengthen violations processing. Strictly standardize social media publishing behavior flow, provide user complaint reporting channels. For accounts that do not meet certification requirements or annotate information sources for the first time, prompt guidance shall be provided. For accounts that disseminate fake information without verification, severe punishment shall be taken, including warning notices, short-term suspension of rights, and account closure. For accounts that create fake identities for hot topics, maliciously fabricate financial, medical, etc. key field information, severe punishment shall be taken, including long-term suspension of rights and account closure.

Each local cyber space administration should strengthen website platforms' main responsibility, guide them to strengthen their institutional construction, through improving negative information lists, profit authorization management, setting disinformation labels, etc., to prevent fake information from spreading and being transmitted. For websites with prominent issues, local cyber space administrations shall take legal and regulatory measures according to law, guiding the platform to do well in rectification and improvement.