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Fraud and disturbing scenes darken popular trend

CCTV.com

11-17-2016 05:25 BJT

China has rolled out tougher regulations to rein in the wild development of live streaming. It's a technology that's changing China's social media landscape and creating homegrown stars. But as CCTV's Jin Yingqiao tells us, disturbing scenes and fraud have become rampant, casting a shadow on the industry.

This live streaming host is blunt in sharing how he makes money through fake philanthropy.

"I can make 600,000 (yuan) in two months. Next year I'm going to make 20 million."

This video shows how that works, a group of people live stream scenes in which they disseminate money and goods to needy people in China's southwest, trying to entice viewers to send them virtual gifts that can later be turned into real money.

But as another video shows they end up taking the money back. CCTV tried to investigate what actually happened.

"They asked us not to put the money in our pockets, or else they won't give you anything. You hold the money in this way, and they record us."

Eventually, they did give something, pencils and one egg to each person.

CCTV learned that in the remote region of Daliangshan in Sichuan Province, there are multiple such live-streaming teams. Some have stayed here for months, all under the guise of philanthropy.

"I acknowledge that I go to Daliangshan to attract fans and make money. I acknowledge that I have sent out fake money."

And there have been other examples of unruly behavior.

This man was live streaming while he was driving, and says he was driving under the influence.

In October, a man was caught by police for seemingly taking drugs while live streaming.

But a drug test administered by police didn't find any evidence of drug-taking. He confessed he pulled the stunt to boost his dwindling number of viewers. His action earned him five days in detention.

To curb this sort of activity, the government launched a crackdown in July that already has hit 26 streaming platforms. But there still seems to be no end in sight.

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