China has rolled out a new rule forcing influencers to prove they’re qualified before discussing certain professional subjects online. The Cyberspace Administration of China announced that creators who talk about areas like medicine, law, finance, or education must hold verified degrees or licences related to those fields. Platforms such as Douyin, Weibo, and Bilibili are required to check credentials and clearly label professional or AI-generated content. Violators risk account suspensions or fines, with penalties reportedly reaching as high as ¥100,000 (around $13,000).
Officials say the goal is to fight misinformation and make expert content more reliable, but many see it as another step in tightening control over public speech.