Chinese Tech Mogul Held by Authorities Over Alleged Adult Content on Video Platform

Chinese Tech Mogul Held by Authorities Over Alleged Adult Content on Video Platform

BEIJING — Chen Shaojie, founder and CEO of DouYu — China’s leading video streaming platform — is being held by Chinese authorities over supposed “pornographic content” on the site.

Chen’s whereabouts had been a mystery for weeks until Monday, when anonymous sources unofficially told the Chinese press that he was being held somewhere in the country’s labyrinthine prison system.

A few months ago, China’s internet watchdog, the all-powerful Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), launched an on-site inspection of DouYu’s local subsidiary in the Hubei province “to address ‘serious’ problems, including pornography,” the English-language South China Morning Post reported.

DouYu — a massive, China-based analog to YouTube — is the largest platform of its kind in the country, boasting 163.6 million monthly active users before the pandemic and outranking competing platforms such as DouYin, the flagship product by TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance.

Several weeks ago, following the Hubei branch inspection, Chen “vanished from sight and could neither be contacted nor located by his colleagues,” local news reported.

Reports about Chen, the tech mogul behind the Tencent Holdings-backed DouYu International Holdings, confirm he is being held “incommunicado” by Chinese authorities.

“When someone becomes incommunicado in mainland China, it typically means that the person has either been taken away by authorities for an inquiry or ‘to assist in an investigation,’” the South China Morning Post explained. “In Chen’s case, no Chinese authority has provided any information about his disappearance.”

Chen’s last public appearance was in August, during DouYu’s second-quarter results conference call.

'Providing Easy Access to Pornography'

Another tech mogul, China Renaissance Holdings chairman Bao Fan, was seized by authorities earlier this year in an unspecified investigation. “Authorities have not provided further details about Bao’s situation,” the South China Morning Post offered.

Chen’s case echoes a 2016 investigation, when video streaming pioneer Wang Xin was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison and fined 1 million yuan by the Beijing Haidian District People’s Court, which found him guilty of ‘distributing obscene materials for personal gain.’”

The government charged Wang with “providing easy access to pornography” through his platform.

The weaponization of obscenity laws against tech companies and moguls over third-party content published on platforms, and against other politically controversial individuals, has been routine in totalitarian regimes worldwide.

In the U.S., Section 230 shields tech companies from liability over third-party content, and discourages government abuse of sensational sex-related accusations to target companies and individuals.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Show More