China launches campaign against online hostility and pessimism

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China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC) on Monday announced a two-month nationwide campaign to crack down on online content that fuels hostility, spreads rumours, or promotes pessimism about the economy and society.

Key measures

  • Targeted content includes:

    • Posts inciting fan group clashes.

    • Tutorials on doxxing techniques.

    • Rumours and conspiracy theories about the economy.

    • Narratives exaggerating isolated negative incidents.

    • Pessimistic slogans such as “hard work is useless” or “studying is useless”.

  • The CAC said it would conduct comprehensive inspections of trending topics, recommendation systems, and comment sections on major platforms.

Platforms under scrutiny

Recent disciplinary measures have already been taken against:

  • Kuaishou (short-video app)

  • Weibo (microblogging platform)

  • Xiaohongshu/RedNote (Instagram-like platform)

Broader context

  • China’s economy has been under pressure in 2025, with sluggish growth and persistent youth unemployment fueling online discontent.

  • Authorities argue that pessimistic narratives and heated online debates could spill into real-world instability.

  • Unlike Western moderation practices, China’s online speech controls are more extensive, aimed at shaping public sentiment in line with state priorities.

Recent example

The campaign follows the case of actor Yu Menglong, 37, who died after falling from a building. Authorities said three individuals fabricated rumours and fake videos about his death, prompting police to take “compulsory measures” against them for disrupting public order.

The CAC said the new campaign is designed to “clean up online spaces” and promote a healthier information environment aligned with socialist values.

EU confirms ransomware attack caused major airport disruptions

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The EU’s cybersecurity agency ENISA confirmed on Monday that a ransomware attack was behind the widespread disruptions to automated check-in systems at several of Europe’s largest airports, including London Heathrow, Brussels, and Berlin. The incident, which began on Friday, has delayed or cancelled dozens of flights and impacted thousands of passengers.

What happened

  • The attack targeted Collins Aerospace’s MUSE software, a key system used for passenger check-in and boarding. Collins Aerospace is owned by RTX.

  • ENISA said law enforcement is investigating but did not disclose the origin of the ransomware or who may be behind it.

  • Ransomware attacks work by encrypting critical data and demanding payment for access restoration.

Impact on airports

  • Heathrow: Airlines implemented contingency plans, with most flights still operating.

  • Brussels Airport: Still facing major disruptions, using iPads and laptops to check in passengers. On Monday, about 60 flights were cancelled, and less than half of flights departed on time.

  • Berlin Airport: With extra passenger traffic from the Berlin Marathon, delays exceeded an hour, and check-in remained manual, with handwritten boarding passes.

  • Dublin Airport: Reported only minimal impact.

Broader context

  • The attack is part of a surge in high-profile ransomware cases, targeting critical infrastructure and major corporations.

  • Recent victims include Jaguar Land Rover, which was forced to halt production earlier this month.

  • A German industry survey found 1 in 7 companies have paid ransoms to recover from attacks.

  • Experts note that while such high-impact disruptions are highly visible, they remain relatively rare compared to the overall number of cyber incidents.

Expert perspective

Rafe Pilling of Sophos noted that attackers are increasingly focusing on high-visibility victims for maximum leverage:

“Disruptive attacks are becoming more visible in Europe, but visibility doesn’t necessarily equal frequency. Truly large-scale, disruptive attacks that spill into the physical world remain the exception rather than the rule.”

Collins Aerospace said it is in the final stages of deploying updates to restore full functionality across affected airports.

Trump says Murdoch, Ellison, Dell lined up as investors in TikTok U.S. deal

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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Lachlan Murdoch, Larry Ellison, and Michael Dell would be among the American investors involved in a proposed deal to keep TikTok operating in the United States.

The arrangement is part of ongoing negotiations to transfer TikTok’s U.S. assets away from China’s ByteDance to a U.S.-controlled entity. The app, with 170 million U.S. users, has been at the center of Washington’s national security concerns and a 2024 law requiring divestiture by January 2025.

Key details of the proposed deal:

  • Ownership structure: TikTok’s U.S. operations would be majority-owned by American investors, with ByteDance holding under 20% of shares.

  • Governance: The U.S. entity would be operated domestically by a board with national security and cybersecurity credentials.

  • Investors:

    • Lachlan Murdoch, CEO of Fox Corp, through Fox (not personally). Rupert Murdoch, 94, may also play a role.

    • Larry Ellison, Oracle co-founder and major Republican donor, has long been linked to TikTok negotiations.

    • Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies.

  • Data & algorithm safeguards: All U.S. user data will be stored on Oracle cloud infrastructure, with TikTok’s algorithm retrained and operated under U.S. supervision outside of ByteDance’s control.

Trump’s comments:

Trump praised the investors on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing, calling them “American patriots” and saying, “I think they’re going to do a really good job.” He also credited TikTok with helping him build youth voter support during the 2024 election.

Political and economic context:

  • The deal remains under scrutiny by Congress, with Democrats warning against giving Beijing influence or allowing Trump’s allies too much control.

  • Trump has delayed enforcement of the shutdown law until December, with a possible extension into April 2025 to finalize terms.

  • The deal is being folded into broader U.S.-China economic talks, reflecting Trump’s transactional approach.

  • It follows other unusual Trump administration interventions in business, such as taking a 10% U.S. stake in Intel and approving Nvidia chip sales to China in exchange for a cut of sales.

Critics argue these maneuvers deviate from free-market norms, while Trump insists they strengthen U.S. leverage and protect national interests.