Tencent introduces new streaming rules to meet Chinese internet requirements

Chinese publisher Tencent has announced new rules for streamers in a bid to appease China’s strict new internet legislation.

Esports Observer (via GI.biz) reports that the rules will apply wholesale across "all streaming platforms, productions, institutions, and streamers" if they are using any of Tencent’s numerous products.

The rules, which "will be strictly observed by Tencent", have been introduced to meet new internet governance laws brought in by Chinese authorities two weeks ago. Here what will go against Tencent new rules:

• Violating the basic principles of constitutional law, sensitive topics including national politics, nationalities, religions, and regions.

• Publicising or releasing illegal information, including but not limited to pornography, gambling, cults, terrorism, and other contents.

• Behaviour directly or indirectly damaging Tencent Game user’s experience and brand.

• Disseminating or spreading false information to other users by pretending to officially represent Tencent.

• Disseminating private servers, cheating, hacking, or account boosting information.

• Promoting and instigating bloody violence in the real world.

• Violating others’ privacy and disclosing others’ information without permission.

• Violating the spirit of a contract, unilaterally terminating the contract or signing other unexcused agreements with third parties, during the term of a contract with a streaming platform.

• Violating the copyright of game publishers and content creators.

• Content that causes any negative social influences.

"There is a natural copyright relationship between gaming contents and live streaming platforms," Tencent said via a statement. "Tencent, as a gaming streaming platform leader and game publisher, has the responsibility to promote the standardisation and authorisation of streaming contents in the industry."

Last year Tencent announced it will be restructuring for the first time in six years following increasing challenges dealing with Chinese governmental regulations for the gaming industry. The megacorp was hit with a fall in profits for the first time in 13 years owing to the very same Chinese regulatory issues that have pushed the decision to restructure.

Tencent also announced that it will expand its player identity verification processes across all its games by the end of 2019 after governmental pressure to reduce game addiction, minimise underage players, and curtail short-sightedness. The new legislation has made it increasingly difficult for Tencent – which, by sales, is the world’s biggest game company – to release new titles or include microtransactions or in-app purchases. Its last release was back in March, pushing its share price down by 28 per cent and reducing the company’s market value by $138 billion.