Campaign Launched to Combat AI Misuse Ahead of Spring Festival

China has launched a sweeping crackdown on problematic online content ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday season, targeting everything from AI-generated misinformation to content that stirs social tensions.

The Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission announced on Thursday a monthlong campaign aimed at cleaning up digital spaces during the Spring Festival period, which runs from Sunday to February 23. This initiative comes as hundreds of millions of Chinese citizens prepare to travel home for the country’s most important annual holiday.

Regulators have identified several key areas of concern, with a particular focus on content that fosters negative social sentiment. Posts that fuel gender antagonism or promote anxiety around marriage and childbearing will face increased scrutiny. Officials also plan to target content that highlights economic disparities, such as ostentatious displays of wealth framed as “Spring Festival shopping” or extravagant gift-giving.

The misuse of artificial intelligence technologies has emerged as a significant concern in this year’s enforcement campaign. The commission specifically mentioned “junk information” mass-produced using AI tools, characterized by confused logic, empty content, and high similarity across posts. Another troubling trend involves the unauthorized modification of classic animations and entertainment content, where AI is being used to insert vulgar or violent elements into beloved works.

Misinformation and rumors also feature prominently in the regulator’s crosshairs. With millions of people traveling during the holiday period, authorities are particularly concerned about false information regarding the Spring Festival travel rush, holiday market supplies, and public safety incidents that could potentially cause panic or disruption.

The campaign extends to individuals who impersonate public figures to capitalize on trending topics, a practice that has become increasingly common on Chinese social media platforms. Such impersonations can mislead users and spread unreliable information during a period of heightened online activity.

China’s major digital platforms have been instructed to strengthen monitoring across all user touchpoints, including app homepages, trending lists, hot-topic recommendations, pop-up alerts, news feeds, and comment sections. These companies are expected to proactively identify and remove illegal or harmful content before it gains traction.

This initiative represents the latest in China’s ongoing efforts to assert greater control over its digital sphere. In recent years, the government has implemented increasingly stringent regulations on content moderation, algorithm transparency, and data security.

The timing of this campaign is strategic, coinciding with a period when internet usage traditionally surges as people travel home and have more leisure time. During the Spring Festival holiday, social media platforms typically see significant increases in user engagement, content creation, and consumption.

For tech companies operating in China, the announcement signals a need for heightened vigilance and more robust content moderation systems during the holiday period. Platforms that fail to adequately police problematic content could face regulatory consequences.

While the government frames these measures as necessary to maintain a “healthy” online environment during an important cultural celebration, critics may view the campaign as part of broader efforts to control public discourse and limit free expression in Chinese cyberspace.

As the Spring Festival approaches, both users and platform operators will need to navigate these heightened restrictions while the country celebrates its most significant traditional holiday.