China's cyberspace watchdog launches crackdown on AI-generated content

China is cracking down on artificial intelligence-generated “slop” – low-grade, mass-produced synthetic content cluttering social media and news feeds – as part of a sweeping campaign against the abuse of the generative technology, the country’s top internet watchdog said on Wednesday.

In a statement posted to its website, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it had scrubbed more than 5.61 million pieces of harmful or illegal content and removed some 49,000 accounts during its latest enforcement drive.

The clampdown swept up 2,400 websites and apps, targeting some of China’s biggest digital spaces, including TikTok’s sister app Douyin and rival Kuaishou, as well as RedNote and Tencent Holdings’ WeChat.

Authorities focused on reining in AI-driven fake news, explicit and violent material, impersonation and safety violations involving minors.

The response underscores Beijing’s growing concerns over the accessibility of generative AI. As tools become cheaper and more sophisticated, creators can produce convincing deepfakes and clickbait in seconds, challenging existing moderation systems.

The CAC said creators on Douyin, Kuaishou and WeChat used AI to turn literary classics such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Journey to the West into sensationalised, low-grade “digital swill” to attract traffic.