China may regulate messaging apps, including WeChat   

中国拟对微信等移动通信工具进行规范

中国国家互联网信息办公室近日表示将针对微信等移动通信工具，拟定相关管理措施。接受采访的专家表示，移动互联网的出现，打破了原有法律规范和行政管理所建立的利益平衡和公平正义，有必要制定或修改相关法律及制度，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.