Chinese automakers have never been shy about defending their reputations, and over the years they’ve taken aim at social media users they believe are spreading damaging claims about their vehicles.

Sometimes those accounts are run by ordinary users, while in other cases competitors themselves are suspected of stoking the attacks. Now the Chinese government is stepping in, with a three-month crackdown on online disinformation that it says targets the auto industry.

Collisions Online And Off

Disinformation about many Chinese car manufacturers has become a common sight across local social media platforms, including Douyin, which is the Chinese version of TikTok. Sometimes, its even rival car companies themselves that use social media to target their competitors.

Nikkei Asia reports that, in July, Li Auto shared a video to social media that showed a collision between one of its SUVs and a truck from Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor. While the SUV escaped with very little damage, the cab of the truck was destroyed. Unsurprisingly, Dongfeng took issue with how its truck was depicted, prompting an apology from Li Auto.

Earlier this month, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said its new enforcement campaign will target malicious disinformation about the auto industry online. It added that steps will be taken against “illegal business practices, exaggerated or false advertising and slander.”

Carmakers Fight Back

It’s not just the government that is fighting back against disinformation, but also the automakers themselves. For example, MG is offering rewards of up to 5 million yuan ($703,000) for information about malicious social media accounts. Similarly, BYD is offering rewards of between 50,000 yuan ($7,000) and 5 million yuan ($703,000) for similar information.

Read: EVs Are So Cheap In China Now Even Xi’s Worried

The reach of some social media accounts cannot be overstated. In 2023, a Douyin influencer posted videos ridiculing the drivers of one particular EV startup in China. While this account was suspended by June 2024, it reportedly had as many as 5.4 million followers, and the damage was arguably already done.