China censors crypto-themed short videos shared online – regulation

A Chinese government-controlled industry body has updated a list of topics that users of video-sharing apps should avoid. Crypto-related content is now among the entries, along with traditional taboos in China, such as mocking its leadership, provoking sectarianism and showing sex.

Clips on Crypto Trading, Mining Banned in China

The China Netcasting Services Association (CNSA) recently launched a blacklist out of 100 topics that have posted online videos on similar platforms like Tiktok should not occur. These include the usual suspects such as questioning China's official history, imitating its political leaders, questioning the country's guiding ideology of "socialism with Chinese character" and discussing fascism.

The document “Online Short Video Content Review Standard Rules (2021)” highlights a number of other prohibited topics. A report from the Register points to some of these, such as drug use, slot machines, crime and gangs, violence and psychological abuse. Sexually explicit content, including that promoting “non-mainstream views on marriage and love,” is also banned.

While most of these topics were included in the previous version, the list has been updated with a few new topics, most notably cryptocurrency. Videos that promote decentralized digital money like Bitcoin by “inducing and inciting the public to engage in virtual currency mining, trading and speculation” are now considered taboo by Chinese censors.

Authorities in the People's Republic have restricted crypto-related activities such as digital currency trading and capital raising. banned coin offerings back in 2017. However, the government only got involved in Bitcoin mining earlier this year.

In May, the State Council, the Cabinet of Ministers in Beijing, decided to crack down on the industry following President Xi Jinping's pledge to make China carbon neutral in the next four decades. The nationwide government offensive forced the miners to relocate to friendlier ones Jurisdictions.

The CNSA ban applies to videos uploaded to platforms such as Douyin, Bytedance's Chinese version of Tiktok, Kuaishou and other social media networks, messaging apps and microblogging sites that allow short video sharing such as Wechat and Weibo.

As a new addition to the blacklist, the cryptocurrency is ranked 98th. Entry No. 100, which reads in English: “Other violation of laws, regulations, social public order and morals,” could reportedly be construed as effectively untying the hands of Chinese regulators to censor almost every clip posted online.

Do you expect Chinese authorities to impose other restrictions on crypto-related online content? Share your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.

Lubomir Tassev

Lubomir Tassev is a tech-savvy journalist from Eastern Europe who likes Hitchens' quote: "Being a writer is what I am, not what I do." In addition to crypto, blockchain and fintech, international politics and economics are two other sources of inspiration.

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