China will move to crack down on the "chaotic" online celebrity fan culture, the country's cyberspace regulator said in a notice published on Friday, part of an ongoing state campaign to "rectify" the internet sector.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it would take action against the dissemination of "harmful information" in celebrity fan groups and close down discussion channels that spread celebrity scandals or "provoke trouble."
The administration will improve the way it regulates the promotion of celebrities online and also ban lists that rank celebrities by popularity, the notice said.
It will also take action against the financial exploitation of netizens through the sale of merchandise or by charging fans to vote for their favorite acts in online variety shows. It also aims to restrict access to online fan groups for minors.
On Thursday, Chinese video-streaming platform iQiyi announced that it would stop showing "idol competition" programs amid growing government criticism of celebrities and "unhealthy fan culture."
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