Chinese People Welcome 2017 (Photo : Getty Images)
For posting political news videos without having permit, Pear Video was ordered on Saturday by the Beijing Cyberspace Administration to make changes on its contents. The changes to be made, however, were not specified by the regulator.
The administration said that Pear Video lacks the license to publish original online news content, make broadcasts and circulate videos. Pear Video is an online video platform which produces short videos. The regular said that Pear Video published political news through original columns, make videos and collected content that online users upload, Global Times reported.’
Draft Regulation
A draft regulation on online new released by the Cyberspace Administration of China in January 2016 limited the posting of certain kinds of news,, including political commentaries and reports on the economy, defense and diplomacy, to qualified media organizations only. Individuals are banned from distribution and production of news programs online that are political after China’s top media watchdog tightened rules on videos and broadcasts in December 2016.
The need to secure licenses to make broadcasts and circulate videos, TV dramas and movies cover Sina Weibo, WeChat and other social media platforms. The tighter regulations are part of Beijing’s move to regulate the new media in a manner similar to how it regulates traditional media.
Overturned Car
What triggered the order from Beijing Cyberspace Administration was Pear Video’s posting a video of a vehicle that overturned in front of Tiananmen Square on Friday, Hong Kong Free Press reported. The clip, posted on Weibo through short video app Miaopai, showed smoke coming out of the overturned jeep in front of the Beijing landmark.
On the day that the report was posted online, the Beijing traffic police released notices posted on its Weibo account on Saturday to clarify the overturned car was the result of a car accident. It urged Chinese not to spread rumors.
