China Penalizes Over 1,840 Group Livestreaming Accounts in Content Crackdown

China's top cyberspace regulator has overseen enforcement actions against more than 1,840 group live-streaming accounts as part of its ongoing 'Qinglang' campaign, according to state media reports. The campaign targets popular multi-host entertainment streams for alleged offenses including suggestive performances, aggressive virtual-gift solicitation, minor rights violations, and abusive player-versus-player (PK) competitions. Penalties range from traffic throttling and temporary bans to permanent account closures and the expulsion of an MCN agency.

Group live-streaming has grown into a major revenue-generating sector within China's live-stream economy. Targeted regulatory enforcement signals that oversight is shifting from broad platform-level moderation toward fine-grained control over specific live-streaming formats, monetization mechanics, and Multi-Channel Network (MCN) management.

China’s cyberspace watchdog, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), has directed internet platforms to penalize over 1,840 non-compliant group live-streaming accounts under its ongoing 'Qinglang' campaign, according to reports by state media outlets Xinhua and Daily Economic News. The targeted crackdown focuses on 'tuanbo'—a popular multi-host entertainment live-streaming format—addressing issues such as vulgar content, abusive tipping tactics, and violations of minors' rights. The CAC urged platforms to enforce stricter content moderation against group streams that use suggestive performances, dim lighting, and sexually explicit movements to create soft-pornographic atmospheres. Account bans and commenting suspensions were levied against several channels for hosting revealingly dressed performers and executing suggestive actions. Regulators also cracked down on aggressive monetization techniques, such as scripted 'player-versus-player' (PK) battles where multi-host teams shout high-pressure phrases like 'help me assemble a team' or 'just a little bit left' to manipulate viewers into purchasing virtual gifts without offering substantive content. Strict penalties were enforced against accounts exploiting or impersonating minors. One group streaming account was permanently shut down after involving minors directly in broadcasts, and the platform subsequently expelled the account's parent Multi-Channel Network (MCN) agency. Other accounts received temporary streaming bans for having adult creators wear school uniforms or mimic children's voices to encourage gift tipping. Furthermore, platforms muted or permanently banned accounts that used secret code words such as 'unlocking benefits' to solicit off-platform monetary transfers or arrange offline meetings with followers. The crackdown underscores Beijing's evolving regulatory approach, moving from general platform oversight to precise enforcement targeting specific operational models like group live-streaming and MCN management. Regulators warned that platforms will continue to enforce contractual and legal rules, signaling tighter compliance obligations for talent agencies and streaming networks operating across Chinese digital platforms.