China: Adopted Code of Conduct for Internet Anchors

On 8 June 2022, China's National Radio and Television Administration and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued the Code of Conduct for Internet Anchors regulating the conduct of internet livestreamers. The Code requires livestreamers to adhere to standards of legality and decency in their streams. Further, livestreamers producing content that involves a high level of professionalism, for example about healthcare, finance, law, or education, are required to have a relevant practice certificate which they must provide to the streaming platform. The Code also explicitly lists 31 acts which livestreamers are prohibited from engaging in, including subverting the constitutional order or national religious policy, promoting obscenity or harmful behaviour, and engaging in deceptive advertising. Livestreaming platforms are also required to implement rules to ensure that streamers abide by the Code.