Internet authorities target disinformation and scams amid outbreak

On Feb 20, 2020

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released guidelines Tuesday that aim to clean up Covid-19 virus-related disinformation and close security loopholes, and it expects tech companies to pitch in.

Why it matters: The outbreak of Covid-19 has created a great deal of uncertainty, creating opportunity for unscrupulous behavior such as scams.

This announcement is another move in a “people’s war” against the virus and the disinformation which comes with it. The ministry is enlisting help from the public as well as tech companies.

Details: MIIT’s announcement requires “emergency handling of illegal and fake information.”

The ministry calls for cooperation with government departments to carry out real-time monitoring of risks and dealing with fake information.
The notice singles out medical institutions and government agencies to strengthen network security.
It calls for internet order to be maintained, by targeting phishing sites and scams which involve sending internet users false information such as bogus flight changes or fake medical supplies.
It requires internet companies to make positive contributions to epidemic control.

Context: China’s largest tech companies have already become involved in epidemic control, setting up health code systems and websites that debunk rumors.

After closing 350 WeChat public accounts on Feb. 8, Tencent said that it had set up a special team to clean up virus-related rumors. “Do not use WeChat to do illegal things,” the statement added.
On Wednesday, Tencent closed a media account under its own umbrella, “Dajia” which had published articles critical of government information release and argued that rumormongers should see due process in the courts.
In a press conference on Friday, a MIIT representative said that data use should be limited to virus prevention and control in response to a question about whether epidemic was creating conditions where user privacy was being infringed upon.