China may regulate messaging apps, including WeChat   

中國擬對微信等移動通信工具進行規范

中國國家互聯網信息辦公室近日表示將針對微信等移動通信工具，擬定相關管理措施。接受采訪的專家表示，移動互聯網的出現，打破了原有法律規范和行政管理所建立的利益平衡和公平正義，有必要制定或修改相關法律及制度，重建平衡。 [查看全文]

Beijing (ECNS) – Chinese authorities are considering new measures to regulate the development of instant messaging apps.

Xie Yongjiang, a deputy professor at the Institute of Internet Governance and Law of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, said new laws and regulations are needed, as existing laws can't guarantee the developing mobile Internet's balance and fairness.

According to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, 857 million people used cell phones to reach the Internet in May, accounting for over 60 percent of 1.26 billion cell phone users.

Along with the development of the mobile Internet, illegal and criminal activities have also affected many users. Spam, rumors and ideas about violence, terrorism, cheating and pornography are widely spread, and some personal information is also illegally collected through the mobile Internet.

Last month, Chinese authorities launched a month-long crackdown on illegal and harmful information in instant messaging apps such as WeChat.

WeChat, China's largest instant messaging platform, run by Tencent with over 600 million registered accounts, has also meted out punishments on accounts that are repeatedly reported and suspected of malicious harassment or fraud.

According to Xinhua, 20 million prostitution-related WeChat accounts have been shut down so far.