Influencers often talk about topics beyond their expertise. From opining on geopolitics to doling out medical and financial advice to whatnot. In India, it's common to come across influencers offering "natural, organic remedies" for various diseases and conditions—often without any medical expertise. But that's not possible in China any more. The Chinese government has brought a law that bars influencers from commenting on "professional and serious topics" without proper credentials and expertise.
China is likely the first major country to bring such a law, which will stop fakefluencers from appearing as experts, and curb misinformation.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued the "Regulations on the Accountability of Internet Content Creators for Professional Topics", mandating that any influencer discussing medicine, law, education, or finance must hold verifiable qualifications—a university degree, professional licence, or state-recognised certification in the relevant field.
Creators must submit proof of expertise, and platforms are obligated to display disclaimers, cite sources, and remove non-compliant posts.
Penalties for violations range from content takedowns to account suspensions and fines up to 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,000), as outlined in the CAC's enforcement guidelines.
The directive was published on the CAC's official portal on October 25. This was seemingly done to curb misinformation and protect public trust in online content.
It is seemingly one of the world's strictest influencer credential systems in public interest and to counter misinformation.
But the law has raised concerns about censorship and exclusion also. Many on X called it: "Communist absurdity" and referred to the new law as a "speech exam". Some also called the move "North Korea-ification" of China.
The new rules require platforms like Douyin (TikTok), Weibo, and Bilibili to verify credentials before allowing content on regulated topics.
Tech outlet 36Kr reported that up to 90% of influencers in health and finance niches may be affected.
Now, influencers who want to talk about "serious topics" have one way out: to partner with certified experts, or pivot to lifestyle content.
Sina Tech, a major Chinese internet and online media company, confirmed that platforms have already begun rolling out verification systems.
The CAC highlighted that the rules do not apply to general lifestyle, entertainment, or personal storytelling content. A food vlogger reviewing street snacks, for instance, faces no restrictions—unless they claim the snacks cure cancer.
In India, where social media penetration exceeds 500 million users, and influencers wield immense power. But with great power comes great responsibility. And many of the influencers do not understand this.
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Fake news has been disseminated by them multiple times. The latest example of this is Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu, who has defended IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti's claims that cow urine possesses anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and digestive properties for treating ailments like IBS.
This sparked debates on social media, amplifying unproven remedies amid rising antibiotic resistance.
Another infamous case involves multiple influencers, who in March 2020 asserted that houseflies transmitted Coronavirus, triggering a surge in related Google searches and panic.
Many also promoted home remedies to "destroy Covid virus potency", along with fake claims about the Covid vaccine.
Such myths need urgent fact-checking and accountability.
Source: India Today