China Targets Online Defamation of Entrepreneurs in New Push

China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) has published the full text of a landmark self-discipline convention designed to shield entrepreneurs and businesses from online defamation, abusive language, and AI-generated misinformation. The ten-article convention, released on June 12, 2026, establishes binding rules for major internet platforms and introduces unprecedented accountability measures for content creators and their management agencies.

A New Era of Online Business Protection

The “Self-Discipline Convention on Rectifying Corporate Infringement Information and Optimizing the Business Online Environment” was developed under the guidance of the CAC by China’s leading internet platforms. According to the CAC’s official announcement, the convention aims to “build industry consensus, strengthen industry self-discipline, and protect the legitimate online rights and interests of enterprises and entrepreneurs.”

The convention was first unveiled on May 19 at the 2026 China Internet Civilization Conference in Nanning, Guangxi, as Xinhua News Agency reported. Its full text was published simultaneously on the CAC website, The Paper, CCTV News, and other major Chinese media outlets on June 12.

Ten Provisions Targeting Digital Harassment

The convention’s ten articles cover a comprehensive range of online harms. Article 1 mandates the prompt removal of content that leaks entrepreneurs’ personal privacy and strictly manages abusive language, rumors, and defamation. Article 2 requires unified standards for handling verified false corporate information, while Article 3 targets online “water armies” — networks of bot accounts that spread coordinated negative messaging.

A notable feature of the convention is its explicit focus on AI-generated content. Article 4 strengthens management of trending search lists, prohibiting the display of AI-generated negative corporate information and barring topics related to entrepreneurs’ personal disputes, private lives, or unverified negative events. Article 5 requires platforms to optimize algorithmic recommendation systems, restricting the promotion of accounts that aggregate negative corporate information and limiting the reach of AI-generated harmful content.

Financial Consequences and MCN Liability

Article 9 introduces a powerful financial deterrent: platforms must revoke the profit-making permissions of “self-media” accounts that frequently publish negative corporate information. This includes cutting off traffic-sharing revenue, advertising income, product promotion capabilities, and live-streaming tipping.

For the first time, the convention explicitly holds Multi-Channel Network (MCN) agencies jointly accountable for infringing content published by their affiliated accounts, as detailed in Article 10. This represents a significant escalation in regulatory pressure on China’s influencer and content creator ecosystem, which has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry.

Part of a Broader Campaign

The convention is the latest component of China’s “Qinglang” (Clear and Bright) internet governance initiative, which has been running since 2021. According to reports from the China Internet Civilization Conference, three consecutive years of “Qinglang·Optimize Business Online Environment” campaigns have resulted in over 927,000 pieces of corporate infringement information being cleared and more than 89,800 illegal accounts being handled.

A parallel two-month special campaign, launched on May 29, 2026, targets four categories of violations: malicious hype of corporate information, defamation and smearing of enterprises — including AI-generated fake content — illegal profit-seeking through extortion schemes, and violations of entrepreneurs’ personal rights.

Implications for Business and Free Expression

The convention arrives amid China’s ongoing efforts to boost private sector confidence and economic growth. By signaling a government commitment to protecting business leaders from digital attacks, the measure may help reassure entrepreneurs who have faced online harassment and extortion campaigns.

However, the convention also raises questions about its potential impact on legitimate criticism of businesses. Critics may argue that provisions targeting “frequently publishing negative corporate information” lack clear definitions, creating ambiguity that could be used to suppress consumer complaints, investigative journalism, or whistleblowing. The effectiveness of the convention will ultimately depend on consistent enforcement across China’s diverse internet platform ecosystem.

What to Watch

As the convention takes effect, attention will focus on how major platforms — including Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance — implement the new rules in practice. The CAC has stated it will strengthen guidance and supervision to ensure the convention is implemented effectively, while also inviting public participation and oversight.

The integration of AI governance into business environment protection reflects China’s proactive approach to regulating AI-generated content, following the April 2025 “Qinglang·Rectify AI Technology Abuse” campaign. This dual focus on business protection and AI regulation suggests a permanent shift toward more stringent online content governance in China.