China mandates content labeling for short videos

This undated photo shows the filming site of a micro drama at the Shanghai International Short Video Center in Shanghai, east China. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's cyberspace regulator has ordered online platforms to standardize content labeling for short videos, mandating that creators disclose whether the content contains fictional elements or AI-generated material.

Platforms must make content labeling a mandatory step before a short video can be published, and uploaders will be required to choose one label from a list of compulsory categories, according to the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission.

The move comes amid growing concerns over fabricated and misleading online content, including staged videos and AI-generated material that can blur the line between fact and fiction.

According to the regulator, platforms must apply clear labels linked to content authenticity, disclosing whether short videos contain "fictional or dramatized content," "AI-generated content," "marketing information," "reposted content," or "personal opinions."

Short videos documenting real-life events may select the "no label required" option, and that tag will not be displayed publicly on the video page.

Since January, authorities have removed more than 520,000 illegal short videos, including staged or fabricated content, and penalized over 68,000 accounts as part of a broader campaign to regulate the sector.