Company: ZHIHF
Filing Date: 2025-04-15
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0001410578-25-000729
Chunk: 136

Company: Zhihu Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-15
Form: 20-F
Item: Item 3
Chunk 136
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 live streaming service providers shall censor and tape such programs and retain them for at least 60 days for future check by the administrative departments; and they shall have an established emergency reaction plan in place to replace programs in violation of laws and regulations. Bullet-screen comments shall be forbidden in the live streaming of important political, military, economic, social, sports, and cultural events. Special censor shall be appointed for bullet-screen comments in the live streaming of general cultural events of social communities and sports events. Hosts, guests, and targets hired or invited by online audio-visual live streaming programs shall meet the following requirements: (i) patriotic and law-abiding; (ii) good public reputation and social image, no scandals and no misdeeds; (iii) dress, hairstyle, language, and actions are consistent with public order and good morals, and not drawing topics with vulgar contents or contents inappropriate to discuss in public.

According to the Measures for the Administration of Cyber Performance Business Operations, which were promulgated by the Ministry of Culture on December 2, 2016 and became effective on January 1, 2017, a cyber-performance business entity engaging in cyber performance business operations shall, in accordance with the Interim Administrative Provisions on Internet Culture, submit an application to the cultural administrative department at the provincial level for an Internet Cultural Business License, and the license shall specify the scope of its cyber performance. A cyber-performance business entity shall indicate the number of its Internet Cultural Business License in a conspicuous position on its homepage. According to the 2024 Negative List, foreign investors are prohibited from investing in an entity holding an Internet Cultural Business License (except for music). Consequently, foreign investors are prohibited from investing in businesses that carry out and operate the short video and live streaming and online game via platform(s), as these businesses are deemed as businesses subject to foreign-investment prohibition by virtue of the platform’s need to obtain an Internet Cultural Business License (except for music).

Table of Contents

According to the Notice on Strengthening the Management of Internet Live Streaming Service issued by Office of the National “ Anti- pornography and Anti-illegal” Working Group, the MIIT, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Radio and Television Administration, and the CAC on August 1, 2018, live streaming service providers shall perform website ICP filing procedures with the competent telecommunication department according to law, and live streaming service providers involved in operating telecommunication business and internet news information, network performance, live streaming