China Targets Big Tech’s Algorithms in Persistent Crackdown

(Bloomberg) — China kicked off a formal campaign to rein in the potential abuse of algorithms by internet giants from ByteDance Ltd. to Tencent Holdings Ltd., taking aim at the way social media platforms serve up ads and content to hook users.

The Cyberspace Administration of China will conduct on-site inspections of businesses and ask them to submit their services for review, the internet watchdog said Friday in a statement. Large-scale websites, platforms and products with big influence will be targeted, it said, without naming any.