China is launching a campaign to clean up the social media presence of its government departments, working to improve government connectivity via social media while also controlling negative comments which can have a “negative impact on the image and the public trust in the government,” according to a government website statement. These accounts must not “express any personal emotions or opinions, and normally should only repost information from government websites or from sources recognized by the government.” The campaign is part of the larger governmental efforts to control information dissemination and extend communications reach into more tech-savvy generations.
Source: Watch that Tweet! China cracks whip on government social media image | Reuters
