Cyber regulator shuts down social media accounts for damaging military's image

China's top internet regulator announced on Thursday the shutdown of several social media accounts for violating regulations by posting improper military-related information, saying that these accounts "misled public perception, damaged the image of the military and had a negative social impact".

According to a release from the Cyberspace Administration of China, some of these accounts impersonated official military-related accounts or fabricated military rumors.

The release noted, for instance, that some accounts were named "Southern Guardian" and "Joint Staff Think Tank Service", which could lead users to mistakenly believe they were associated with the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command or the Joint Staff Department.

There were also accounts that impersonated official military department accounts, frequently posting military-related content and exploiting military hot topics to gain followers and profit, it said.

Additionally, the release said that some accounts used artificial intelligence to fabricate rumors such as "China's four major soul-taming weapons", misleading public understanding.

The cyber regulator said some accounts published content such as equipment analysis, tactical and strategic analysis, and military operation interpretations, with some articles requiring paid access, thus profiting unlawfully from military topics.

According to the release, some accounts distorted military history and tarnished the image of the military.

It pointed out that for example, some accounts slandered the achievements of Zhang Jihui, a combat hero in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53), deliberately attracting online traffic for profit.