Top internet watchdog cracks whip on defamatory military-related posts

China's top internet regulator said on Wednesday that it had taken action against a number of social media accounts that illegally published military-related information, saying their posts "misled public understanding, damaged the image of the armed forces, and caused a negative social impact".

According to a statement from the Cyberspace Administration of China, the violations fell into four categories: exploiting veteran status for online influence, selling or leaking sensitive materials, distorting policy interpretations, and defaming the image of the military and its personnel.

In one example released in the statement, two content creators used their veteran identities to attract followers, appearing in military uniforms in short videos and live streams to "solicit virtual gifts and paid subscriptions".

Another group of accounts sold video footage related to military operations and books restricted to internal military circulation, profiting from classified or sensitive materials, according to the statement.

The CAC said some accounts repeatedly posted about military academy admissions and benefits, spreading pessimism about military careers while charging for consulting services.

Others fabricated or exaggerated stories that smeared military marriages and service members, or used artificial intelligence tools to generate distorted images and videos that vilified the armed forces.