Screengrab from a controversial Chinese live streaming footage showing a woman eating a banana "erotically." (Photo : Twitter)
China is tightening its rules on live-streaming videos amid concerns about inappropriate content being shown on the platform.
In a guideline issued by the Ministry of Culture on Thursday, live streaming performers will now be held accountable for any content published on their channels, China Daily reported.
The ministry also said that violent and pornographic content, as well as those containing scenes of gore like deformed bodies or torture, will be automatically flagged, with the uploader blacklisted not only from performing online, but also from engaging in other for-profit activities.
To ensure that the guideline is implemented strictly, live-streaming websites will be required to have supervisors to monitor performances and cut the broadcasts if needed. The ministry said that it is also currently forming guidelines to deal with oversight on the part of regulators.
With more than 200 million registered live-stream users, China has been vigilant over content that it deems unfit for public viewing. In April, the ministry conducted an investigation on 18 live-streaming sites over allegations of broadcasting prohibited content. One site, Douya TV, reportedly showed couples having sex live.
Meanwhile, the Cyberspace Administration of China had also moved to ban the live-stream broadcast of a young woman dancing provocatively in front of a toilet, the Daily Mail reported. The video was reportedly seen by more than 100.000 viewers, prompting outcries.
In May, Chinese censors also banned the use of bananas in live-stream shows, as these were deemed too erotic an image.
The Chinese live-stream industry has also made efforts to regulate itself, with 20 companies signing self-disciplinary agreements. The agreements require users to register using their real names. All live videos will also be recorded and stored for at least 15 days for review.
