CDT not too long ago printed a big set of leaked inner directions for on-line content material administration from the Chinese language platform Leshi Video, or LeTV. They had been issued to LeTV between March 2, 2017 and March 10, 2020 by the Our on-line world Administration of China and different community supervision departments, and convey meticulously detailed necessities for content material management and subsequent reporting on its implementation, usually a number of instances a day. To this point, 718 of those directives have been printed on CDT Chinese language, including to our earlier releases from the corporate. Choices illustrating key themes, from Xi to celebrities and overseas affairs to protests at residence, are translated under. Some comprise the form of directions that will probably be acquainted to readers of our long-running Directives from the Ministry of Fact sequence, notably the set masking the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020; others state reporting necessities reminiscent of numbers of things deleted after publication or filtered earlier than publication; clicks on information tales; consumer feedback; consultant examples, and so forth.
1. COVID-19, from "pneumonia of unknown origin" to the demise of Li Wenliang
If reporting on the pneumonia of unknown origin that broke out in Wuhan, Hubei Province, take info launched by authoritative departments as normal. Don’t make unfounded conjectures, and confirm factors of uncertainty with well being departments to stop inaccurate stories from inciting mass panic. — January 2, 2020
Reminder: Don’t use the time period "whistleblower" in any reporting. — February 7, 2020
2. Prime chief: seven set templates for adverse info referring to Xi Jinping
Dealing with of adverse and dangerous info associated to Xi Jinping: XX deleted, XX filtered. (Cite 5 outstanding examples for every class, within the format: submit time and date, creator title, posted content material.)
- Rumors and assaults concentrating on Chairman Xi himself (e.g. well being, academic report, belongings, life-style, and so forth.; additionally photoshopped photographs, memes, and so forth.)
- Sensationalist adverse content material concentrating on Chairman Xi’s relations (e.g. [his wife] Peng Liyuan, [their daughter] Xi Mingze, and so forth.)
- Sensationalist adverse content material involving hyperlinks between Chairman Xi and common or particular insurance policies
- Sensationalist adverse hypothesis about high-level personnel modifications in relation to Chairman Xi
- Sensationalist adverse content material exploiting current delicate hotspot points, instances, or incidents in relation to Chairman Xi
- Adverse content material geared toward Chairman Xi’s journey, onscreen appearances, abroad visits or different actions
- Republishing sensationalist adverse reporting from abroad media — January 2, 2020; February 7, 2020
3. Overseas relations and worldwide affairs: clear up public opinion on Wang Yi and Meng Wanzhou, and prohibit mockery of North Korean chief
Lately, hostile overseas media have unfold dangerous info reminiscent of sensationalist rumors that Overseas Minister Wang Yi owns a mansion in Canada. All platforms, please clear up associated content material and report on dealing with of the scenario, offering information on deletions and filtering.
On the Huawei/Meng Wanzhou scenario [namely her house arrest in Canada pending possible extradition to the United States], report the variety of information clicks, media stories, netizen feedback, and items of adverse content material deleted or filtered. Present 5 consultant content material samples. — January 2, 2020
Please proceed to observe and report current info that vilifies, spoofs, or denigrates North Korea’s state chief, or that sows discord in and undermines China–DPRK relations. This contains video web sites and gaming web sites …. Third: public opinion regarding Kim Jong-un’s go to to China and up to date visits to South Korea by related leaders of our nation. — January 1, 2019
4. Ethnicity and faith: cautious classification of content material involving Tibet, Xinjiang, or Inside Mongolia; guard in opposition to the unfold of wall-scaling actions
X items of adverse content material involving Tibet deleted; X filtered. Particular classes:
- Any form of rumor or misinformation concerning Tibet
- Articles, photographs, ebooks, or audio/video content material propagating ethnic separatism, spiritual extremism, or violent terrorist ideology
- Content material from hostile information web sites containing sensationalist distortions and defamatory accusations in opposition to us
- Content material vilifying Tibet-related departments, leaders, and patriotic spiritual figures
- Content material inciting actions reminiscent of unlawful gatherings
- Adverse sensationalist content material associated to delicate incidents involving Tibet
- Info on any form of "wall-scaling" instruments unfold into Tibet
- Content material disseminating terrorist or explosive-manufacturing strategies
- [Content] associated to the delicate date "310" [March 10, anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan Uprising]
X items of dangerous content material involving Xinjiang deleted, X filtered …
6. X items spreading "wall-scaling" software program and utilization directions to folks inside Xinjiang — January 1, 20195. Hong Kong’s "anti-extradition motion" grew to become a normal reporting class
[Provide] figures on dealing with of adverse content material on anti-extradition [protests] in Hong Kong, together with deletions, filtering, blocks, and samples of newly added dangerous info. — January 2, 2020
6. Simultaneous monitoring of public opinion on celebrities (e.g. Fan Bingbing tax-evasion case) and public incidents (e.g. campus #MeToo)
Monitor the variety of clicks and feedback on information tales associated to "tax departments investigating tax evasion reminiscent of Fan Bingbing’s ‘yin-yang contracts’ in accordance with the regulation" [see an earlier directive posted at the time]; clear up content material that exploits the scenario to assault the Get together, state equipment, or public safety departments. Present updates every day at 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on the variety of gadgets deleted or filtered.
On information associated to former Peking College professor Shen Yang’s sexual assault of scholar Gao Yan [a 1998 case which erupted back into the spotlight in 2018]: X clicks on associated information, X media stories, X consumer feedback, X Weibo discussions, X blocked photographs, X deletions, X gadgets filtered within the earlier 24 hours, and supply 5 notable examples. — January 1, 2019
7. Content material reporting necessities on rights protection legal professionals, police, the navy, and so forth. Even previous instances stay below scrutiny.
Please clear up adverse content material associated to rights protection legal professionals, [and report] numbers of deletions and gadgets filtered.
Please proceed to ramp up dealing with of adverse content material concerning the navy posted on public platforms … Classes: questioning official stories on the intense violent crime incident in Pingdu [a protest by military veterans which turned violent]; attacking the Get together, authorities, and social system; negativity concerning the police; republishing overseas [material]. — January 1, 2019
Figures for dealing with of adverse content material on the Lei Yang case [a fatal police beating in 2016]: deletions, gadgets filtered (present three examples, if out there); and the whole variety of new feedback posted through the Lei Yang case interval. — January 2, 2020 [Chinese]
See CDT Chinese language for the total assortment of directives.
Since directives are generally communicated orally to journalists and editors, who then leak them on-line, the wording printed right here might not be actual. Some directions are issued by native authorities or to particular sectors, and should not apply universally throughout China. The date given could point out when the directive was leaked, quite than when it was issued. CDT does its utmost to confirm dates and wording, but in addition takes precautions to guard the supply. See CDT’s assortment of Directives from the Ministry of Fact since 2011.
