China's cyberspace administration targets AI misuse in major crackdown

On September 2, 2026, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced the latest progress of the second phase of the 'Clear and Bright · Rectify AI Application Chaos' campaign. The initiative targets AI-generated misinformation, violent and vulgar content, impersonation, and harm to minors. By year-end 2026, authorities have removed over 5.6 million illegal posts, penalized 49,000 accounts, and shut down 2,400 websites and apps. Platforms like Douyin, Weibo, and Bilibili enhanced AI detection tools, while models like Qwen and Wenxin Yiyan tightened content moderation. The CAC labeled AI-generated low-quality content as 'digital泔水' and condemned 'toxic animations' that harm children. Several platforms faced penalties for hosting illegal AI-generated content, including sites like 'Nt' and '芋**o'. The campaign aims to curb AI abuse and will continue monitoring emerging risks.