Douyin controversies

Personal-information collection and use concerns

China’s cyberspace regulator named Douyin among applications accused of unlawful or non-compliant collection or use of personal information and required rectification. The episode reflected broader regulatory scrutiny of large internet platforms rather than a finding limited exclusively to Douyin.

Douyin explains Yuan Longping account registration

Company response

In January 2021, Douyin issued a statement explaining the registration process for an account named "Yuan Longping, Chinese Pioneer." According to the statement, the Qingdao Sea Rice Research and Development Center provided authorization and identity materials for the account. Douyin said that subsequent handling of the account would respect the wishes of Yuan Longping and his team. The statement addressed the process by which the account was registered and indicated that further decisions about the account would take the views of Yuan Longping and his team into account.

Douyin issued a statement explaining the process for registering the account named “袁隆平中华拓荒人,” including that Qingdao Sea Rice Research and Development Center provided authorization and identity materials. Douyin said subsequent handling of the account would respect Yuan Longping and his team's wishes.

Chinese regulators fine Douyin over content

Fine or penalty

In January 2021, Chinese regulators fined Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, the maximum penalty following an investigation. According to the source, the investigation found that the platform was spreading content described as "obscene, pornographic and vulgar." The fine was reported as part of Beijing's continued cyberspace crackdown. The source did not specify the amount of the penalty or any further outcomes.

Chinese regulators fined Douyin the maximum penalty after an investigation found it was spreading content they described as “obscene, pornographic and vulgar.”

Douyin sues Zhihu over hot-list content

Lawsuit filed

In a dispute noted in 2021, Douyin filed suit against Zhihu in the Beijing Internet Court. Douyin alleged that a topic on Zhihu's hot list and the answers under it contained false information that defamed Douyin. In its claims, Douyin sought deletion of the content, publication of an apology, and compensation for economic loss. The available account identifies the parties, the court, and the relief requested, but does not state a ruling or outcome.

Douyin sued Zhihu in Beijing Internet Court, alleging that a Zhihu hot-list topic and answers contained false information that defamed Douyin, and seeking deletion of the content, an apology, and compensation.

Douyin and Kuaishou fined over micro-loan advertisement

Fine or penalty

A branch of China's State Administration for Market Regulation fined Douyin and Kuaishou 200,000 yuan each for publishing an advertisement that authorities said violated China's advertising law and encouraged excessive consumption.

Douyin removes videos following Tencent copyright complaint

Company response

Douyin said it promptly took down more than 8,000 videos complained about by Tencent after Tencent submitted relevant exclusive copyright documentation.

Jin Dong’s online infringement case against Douyin’s operator

Lawsuit filed

A network-infringement liability case between Jin Dong and Beijing Weibo Vision Technology Co., Ltd., Douyin’s operating company, was publicly disclosed. The case was scheduled for an open hearing on May 26; the source does not state when the lawsuit was filed.

Tencent denied Douyin’s allegations

Company response

Tencent responded to Douyin’s antitrust lawsuit by saying it had not received the relevant materials and that the allegations were untrue and maliciously fabricated. Tencent also said it would continue to file lawsuits over alleged violations by ByteDance and related companies.

ByteDance sues Tencent over alleged monopolistic conduct

Lawsuit filed

ByteDance sued Tencent in Beijing, alleging that Tencent violated Chinese antitrust laws by blocking access to Douyin content on WeChat and QQ. ByteDance sought an order to stop the conduct and 90 million yuan in compensation. Tencent called the accusations false and malicious and said it had not received lawsuit materials.

Tencent responds to Douyin lawsuit

Company response

Tencent responded to Douyin's lawsuit, saying it had not received the relevant materials and calling ByteDance's allegations false and maliciously fabricated. Tencent also said it would continue to file lawsuits.

Court transfers Douyin–Tencent competition case to Shenzhen

Ruling

The Fuzhou Intermediate People's Court ruled that the case concerning Douyin's unfair-competition lawsuit against Tencent should be heard in Shenzhen, and transferred it to the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court. The underlying allegations remain allegations in the supplied report.

Douyin refunds a minor's livestream tipping payment

Company response

Douyin was reported to have refunded a livestream tipping payment made by a minor. According to reports, a 10-year-old had tipped a livestream host more than 100,000 yuan. Douyin said it had fully refunded the user on February 24. The platform also said it was checking the host's conduct and would permanently ban the host if violations were found.

After reports that a 10-year-old had tipped a livestream host more than 100,000 yuan, Douyin said it had fully refunded the user on February 24. The platform also said it was checking the host's conduct and would permanently ban the host if violations were found.

Kuaishou sues Douyin over promoted search results

Lawsuit filed

Kuaishou's operating entity filed a lawsuit against Douyin's operating entity, alleging that searches for “快手” in a third-party app displayed Douyin's app as the top promoted result. Kuaishou sought an injunction against the conduct and RMB 5 million in compensation. The dispute concerns the display of promoted search results in a third-party application.

Kuaishou's operating entity sued Douyin's operating entity, alleging that searches for “快手” in a third-party app showed Douyin's app as the top promoted result and seeking an injunction and RMB 5 million in compensation.

Douyin announces measures against food waste in eating-stream content

Company response

Douyin announced measures addressing food waste in eating-stream content on its platform. The company said it would penalize food-wasting behavior and display a prompt encouraging users to avoid waste and eat reasonably when they search for terms such as "eating broadcast" or "big eater." The announcement described penalties for wasteful behavior and a search-triggered reminder promoting reasonable eating, without detailing specific enforcement actions or outcomes.

Douyin said it would penalize food-wasting behavior on the platform and show a prompt encouraging users to avoid waste and eat reasonably when they search for terms such as “eating broadcast” or “big eater.”

Douyin and other livestreaming platforms respond to food-waste concerns

Company response

Douyin, Kuaishou and Douyu described platform measures in response to reports of food waste in livestreams. Douyin said it would penalize food-wasting behavior and added search prompts; Kuaishou said it would remove works, shut down livestreams or ban accounts for specified behaviors; Douyu said it would strengthen review of food-related livestream content.

Stated objective. Douyin said the search prompts call on users to cherish food; Kuaishou said it opposes catering waste and advocates thrift; Douyu said it aimed to prevent catering waste and create a healthy livestreaming environment.

Court orders Douguan Jia and Boshang Jia to stop operating software targeting Douyin

Ruling

The Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court issued an injunction ordering the operator of Douguan Jia and Boshang Jia to immediately stop selling, operating, publicizing, and promoting the software, which was configured specifically for Douyin. The article reports that Douyin had sued the operator earlier that year.