China's WeChat bans nose-picking, spanking in bid to clean up
livestreams
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[June 11, 2021]
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese social
media platform WeChat on Thursday published a list of activities and
"violations" it is banning in a bid to clean up its livestreaming
service, including "indecent" nose-picking and spanking games.
WeChat, owned by Tencent Holdings, is ubiquitous in China, where it is
used by around 1 billion people for everything from sending instant
messages to ordering pizzas. Its popular "Channels" feature, launched in
2020, allows users to make and follow live broadcasts.
China closely regulates its internet and has been increasingly clamping
down on content that is politically or socially sensitive.
In a post on the platform, WeChat's security centre described in detail
more than 70 "common violations" that had been discovered during daily
monitoring of the livestream service, and urged hosts to pay attention
to the rules to avoid being punished.
Besides nose-picking and spanking, other "vulgar" activities that are
banned include putting underwear over one's head and focusing the camera
lens on sensitive parts of the body, such as the chest or buttocks, it
said.
Deliberately showing tattoos, using bed sheets and quilts as props and
women broadcasting while wearing only underwear or a bikini, or being
wrapped in a bath towel, were also listed as violations.
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Small toy figures are seen in front of WeChat logo in this
illustration picture taken March 15, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File
Photo
Other offences include discussing politically
sensitive topics, promoting gambling activities, and broadcasting
from venues unsuitable for minors such as bars, nightclubs and foot
massage parlours.
Any livestream violations will result in penalties being imposed on
the channel and its host, the WeChat security team said.
(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Additional reporting by Meg Shen and
Twinnie Siu; Writing by Tom Daly; Editing by Mike Harrison)
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