Fact-distorting internet users face the music

Social media accounts that spread fake military information shut down

Chinese authorities have shut down several social media accounts for spreading false information about the military, including fabricated stories about Chinese warships sinking foreign vessels and prolonged electronic warfare in the South China Sea, according to the Cyberspace Administration of China.

In a news release on Monday, the administration disclosed a series of cases in which some personal media accounts "speculated and fabricated false information, and engaged in speculative hype".

Personal media accounts refer to non-institutional content publishers on social media platforms such as WeChat, Weibo or video-sharing platform Douyin. They publish news or information even though they are not operated or approved by the government or any other authoritative entities.