China's top internet watchdog canvassed public opinion on Friday for a plan to update rules more than two decades old, aiming to widen oversight of online services to cover payment, shopping and livestreaming platforms, Reuters reports. For the first time, the Cyberspace Administration of China defined "internet information services" within its purview to include offerings by such platforms, as well as those of news information providers and search engines. The move would "promote the healthy and orderly development of Internet information services," it said on its official WeChat account. China's first serious regulatory move against the sector came in December, with draft rules to deter monopolistic behavior by internet companies. It also warned domestic internet companie sto prepare for greater scrutiny, after levying fines and ordering investigations of deals involving Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings.

Source: The Standard January 08, 2021 04:41 UTC