China has tightened its grip on digital influencers. The Beijing government has approved a new law requiring influencers to have academic training in the areas they address in their content. This was reported by the Economic Times.
According to the approved legislation, any influencer wishing to discuss “serious” topics—such as finance, health, medicine, law, or education—must have relevant professional qualifications and is required to prove them.
The law came into effect on October 25th and aims to reduce online misinformation. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has also banned the advertising of medical products and services. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) took into account concerns that this law could harm creativity and limit freedom of expression, but argues that it was created to protect people from misleading content.
Anyone acting as an influencer is required to prove their official qualifications before creating social media content on sensitive topics such as medicine, law, education, and finance.
Influencers are now required to possess a university degree, recognized training, license, or certification before publishing content in regulated areas. Major Chinese platforms—such as Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), Weibo, and Bilibili—are also subject to these regulations and will need to verify the credentials of creators available on their platforms and ensure that shared content mentions appropriate legal citations and disclaimers.
The Influencer Law in Practice
Influencers who publish content on social media platforms in China will need to clearly highlight AI-generated material or any reference to it.
Content creators must clearly state when information comes from studies or when their videos use AI-generated content.
The law prohibits advertising medical products, supplements, and health foods to prevent promotions disguised as “educational” content.
Users should be aware of their responsibilities when sharing content online.
Predictions estimate that the new rule will create a radical shift in how influencer culture functions in China.
