By Hua Ziliang | 2025-02-19

Chinese authorities are cracking down on military-related content on social media in an attempt to protect sensitive information.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Public Security, the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission and seven other government agencies on February 8 jointly issued new regulations titled "Measures for the Management of Military Information Dissemination on the Internet."

The new rules establish strict rules on the operation of military websites and social-media accounts focused on military content, prohibiting the publication of content related to military deployments, national defense technology and other sensitive topics.

Under the new regulations, military information websites, social-media platforms and personal accounts must undergo national identity verification.

Operators also are required to participate in training conducted by military and local departments and prohibited from posting content related to "military deployments, troop mobilization" and "important national defense science and technology research projects."

The CAC and the Political Work Department said that the new regulations aim to "govern the spread of false military information on the internet, the leakage of military secrets and other related issues."

The PLA News and Communication Center criticized numerous military-themed accounts for having "low registration thresholds and arbitrarily posting military information," while emphasizing that "leaks and security issues occur from time to time."

When the new regulations take effect, dedicated military affairs websites and social-media military columns will be prohibited from using terms such as "People's Liberation Army (PLA)" unless officially approved to prevent fake accounts from misleading the public.

Stealth fighter video leak

In recent years, military enthusiasts sharing updates about China's military development on social media have become a key source of information for observers abroad.

The latest regulations reflect a desire to ensure that "sensitive information ... and speculation will not undermine the official narrative on the country's military development and capabilities," David Bandurski, executive director of the China Media Project, wrote on February 10.

In response, many Chinese military content creators have begun adjusting their strategies.

A military content creator on Bilibili, a popular Chinese video-sharing platform, told Focus that several bloggers he knows have stopped making videos about weapons and China's military.

If the regulations are strictly enforced, military bloggers will "have almost nothing left to talk about except for military developments in other countries," he said on the condition of anonymity.

Another military blogger speculated that the introduction of the new regulations could be related to a prior incident involving a suspected leak of a video showing the latest "sixth-generation stealth fighter."

The video sparked widespread discussion and may have involved sensitive information, prompting officials to tighten regulations further.

China's Ministry of State Security has repeatedly warned military enthusiasts in the past about sharing sensitive information.

The ministry in December 2023 reported it was cracking down on cases of illegal filming of military equipment.

Such online behavior could expose construction progress, troop deployments and technical details, threatening national security, officials warned.

Last March, the ministry labeled online military enthusiasts a "high-risk" group for espionage and leaks.

The CAC tightened regulations, stressing the need to curb misinformation and unauthorized military-related content on social media.