China shuts "low-taste" celeb paparazzi social media accounts

The Chinese authorities have ordered social media operators to close several high-profile accounts accused of spreading low-taste celebrity paparazzi content.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said Friday that the closure of accounts including "Zhuo Wei Fans Support Group" and "All Celeb News Agency" would be permanent.

"The rampant and low-taste speculation on celebrities' private lives has seriously disrupted online order, sent an incorrect ideological message, affected the healthy development of youth, and caused wide social discontent," the regulator said in a statement.

The CAC said the campaign, which it led with five ministries and central state organs, would continue to strengthen oversight over social media operators such as Weibo, Tencent, Baidu and Youku while punishing entertainment companies and studios found violating the law.

The spread of false, illegal, and harmful content on the internet is a common issue facing countries around the world.

China's leadership has stressed building a "clean" cyberspace by providing more and better online content, and putting in place a system for integrated internet management.

The government closed more than 6,000 websites and WeChat accounts containing pornographic and indecent content in 2017. Several influential streaming websites were closed and a number of live stream hosts were detained for producing pornographic content, according to the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications.

More than 4.5 million indecent posts were deleted at the request of the office during the year, while online service providers removed about 20 million similar posts themselves, it said.