China cracks down on influencers without degrees — must be certified before discussing finance, education, medicine, and law

China has launched a sweeping crackdown on unqualified online influencers, now requiring anyone discussing medicine, law, education, or finance to prove they actually have the credentials to do so. The new rule, enforced by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), took effect in late October 2025 and forces creators to show a verified degree or professional license before they can post about these sensitive subjects.

Major platforms such as Douyin, Bilibili, and Weibo are now tasked with verifying users’ academic or professional backgrounds before allowing related uploads.

Those who break the rule face heavy penalties, including fines reaching 100,000 Chinese yuan — roughly ₱800,000 — along with possible account suspension or permanent bans. Platforms that fail to comply risk their own sanctions, making the law a double-edged sword for both creators and tech companies.

The policy targets influencers who post about medical treatments, financial advice, legal opinions, or educational topics without formal qualifications. Creators must also cite sources and disclose if their content includes dramatizations or AI-generated elements.

Meanwhile, ads for medical products, health supplements, and similar goods are now banned when disguised as “informational” videos. Fake experts and impersonators posing as professionals are being systematically removed, and new algorithmic filters are being trained to flag sexualized videos pretending to be educational.

Supporters argue the move protects users from dangerous misinformation, echoing professional standards seen offline. Critics counter that the rule is a veiled attempt to tighten state control over online expression and suppress independent commentary. For them, this isn’t just about accuracy — it’s about silencing alternative voices under the guise of professionalism.

A similar certification trend is already being observed in the United Arab Emirates, where influencers are now required to secure official licenses before producing or promoting content in specific fields.