Apple in Beijing’s Sights Over Live Streaming

Chinese regulators said that Apple is part of an inquiry into live-streaming apps available in China and that they would “summon” representatives of the company to discuss the matter, state-run media reported.

Live-streaming apps have come under greater scrutiny from regulators, in part due to the spread of sexually suggestive or explicit performances carried by them, but also for the potential of some to showcase instances of civil unrest.

The inquiry is being conducted jointly by the Beijing Cultural Market Administrative Law Enforcement Team, the Beijing Cyberspace Administration, and the Beijing Public Security Bureau.

Apple offers its newly-released Clips app, which will not a live-streaming app allows for the quick shooting, editing, and sharing of user-generated video. However, the company will face heavier questioning over ensuring that live-streaming apps available from its App Store in China conform with local laws regarding the registration of users and monitoring of content.

Three Chinese websites — toutiao.com, huoshanzhibo.com, and huajiao.com — were punished for violations, although the report did not indicate which sites had committed which specific violations.