Chinese Cyberspace Watchdog Releases Filing List of Information Service Algorithms

On August 12, the Cyberspace Administration of China released a filing list of 30 domestic Internet information service algorithms from NetEase, Qihoo 360, Kuaishou, Meituan and other well-known enterprises in the country.

On March 1 this year, the Internet Information Service Algorithm Filing System was launched. Algorithm recommendation service providers with public opinion attributes or social mobilization capabilities were required to file their algorithm information within ten working days from the date of launching related services.

The cyberspace administration only records the algorithm recommendation service provided by the platforms and the algorithm recommendation technology used in the service. This filing does not represent recognition by the regulator.

In addition, the Cyberspace Administration of China also revealed the algorithm principle of some apps in the query system. For example, ByteDance’s popular short video app Douyin automatically analyzes and calculates the user’s equipment information, location information and behavior information collected by the system, and screens out the content that users may find more interesting according to the algorithm’s calculations.

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Douyin’s running mechanism is mainly based on a user’s historical behavior data such as clicks, watch time and praise. A model is then established through deep learning technology to estimate the probability of a user interacting with certain posts or videos. Douyin will then push content it thinks the user might like based the above screening mechanism.