On Tuesday, China’s cybersecurity regulator unveiled a nationwide two-month initiative dubbed ”Qinglang” to tackle disorderly tipping practices in online live streaming. The campaign focuses on entertainment group streams and private-domain streams, with strict enforcement against vulgar performances that solicit tips, fake personas deceiving audiences, attempts to manipulate minors into tipping, and other activities that fuel irrational spending.
According to the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the crackdown will specifically target lowbrow live streams that use explicit content—such as partial nudity, sexually suggestive gestures, obscene sounds, or provocative set designs—to encourage tipping. Other banned tactics include using cheap gimmicks, uncomfortable challenges, or manipulative voting mechanisms to pressure users into rewarding streamers.
The campaign will also crack down on fraudulent streamers who deceive viewers into tipping by fabricating stories of poverty, wealth, or elite status, impersonating soldiers, teachers, or doctors, or staging fake “hardship” or “abuse” narratives. Additional violations include:
- AI-generated fake content
- False interactive perks, fake rebate or lottery promises that mimic gambling
- Scams targeting the elderly, disguised as companionship, charity, patriotic support, or overpriced collectible buybacks
Another key focus is protecting minors. Authorities will penalize streamers who:
- Lure teenagers with fake romance, friendship, or gaming mentorship
- Encourage minors to steal parental IDs to bypass age restrictions
- Knowingly allow underage tipping without intervention
- Pretend to be minors themselves to solicit rewards
The campaign will also address irrational tipping incentives, such as:
- Lack of spending caps on virtual gifts or single tips
- Rankings solely based on tipping amounts
- Absence of daily spending warnings to prevent impulsive or excessive tipping
Repeat offenders—including streamers, platforms, and MCN agencies—that promote or enable illegal tipping will face severe penalties, and typical violation cases will be publicly exposed as warnings.
Platforms must strengthen content moderation, tighten tipping policies, and establish dedicated supervision systems, the CAC stated. They are also required to:
- Enforce tipping limits and real-time spending alerts
- Regulate streamer rankings, group broadcasts, and PK (player-vs-player) features
- Improve complaint channels and refund mechanisms for minors
Shen Yi, a professor at Fudan University, told the Global Times that this campaign is not just a necessary step for cyberspace governance but also a strategic move to ensure the live streaming industry develops healthily and sustainably.
He explained that each measure addresses a specific issue within the live streaming ecosystem, forming a comprehensive governance framework across four key areas:
- Content formats (e.g., vulgar streams)
- Interaction mechanisms (e.g., deceptive tipping tricks)
- User structures (e.g., minors and the elderly)
- Consumption behaviors (e.g., irrational spending)
These targeted measures, Shen added, will push the industry toward a more sustainable model—shifting focus from pure monetization to interactivity and social value, encouraging rational user participation, curbing impulsive tipping, and raising awareness about fair interaction mechanisms.
