super large platforms
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Beijing targets 'super large platforms'

Internet platforms have to meet four requirements to be designated as such.

Beijing high-rise

Popular Chinese apps like WeChat, Taobao, Alipay, Meituan and Douyin will likely meet all these criteria.

Photo: Zhijian Lyu/Unsplash

China's powerful State Administration for Market Regulation released a set of draft rules on Friday that for the first time defines "super large platforms" and proposes special rules that only apply to them.

In the proposed definition, internet platforms that meet all four requirements — over 500 million annual active users, a market cap of over 1 trillion RMB ($160 billion), strong capability to separate vendors and consumers, and the offering of at least two core services — will be categorized as "super large platforms." Popular Chinese apps like WeChat, Taobao, Alipay, Meituan and Douyin will likely meet all these criteria.

In a separate document, SAMR outlines nine areas where "super large platforms" will be held to higher standards than smaller platforms, including fair competition, open ecosystem, data security, risk reviews and encouraging innovation.

Zeyi Yang

Zeyi Yang is a former reporter with Protocol | China. Previously, he worked as a reporting fellow for the digital magazine Rest of World, covering the intersection of technology and culture in China and neighboring countries. He has also contributed to the South China Morning Post, Nikkei Asia, Columbia Journalism Review, among other publications. In his spare time, Zeyi co-founded a Mandarin podcast that tells LGBTQ stories in China. He has been playing Pokemon for 14 years and has a weird favorite pick.

regulationsuper large platforms
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