China cracks down on ‘uncivilised’ online puns used to discuss sensitive topics

China's internet regulators have launched a "clear and bright" campaign targeting puns, homophones, memes and wordplay that officials describe as "irregular and uncivilised" language online. The Cyberspace Administration of China and the ministry of education announced the campaign this month, and the People's Daily, the Communist party mouthpiece, argued in an editorial that such internet jargon confuses people and erodes the communication and ideological values of minors. The article notes that users have long used homophones and in-jokes to discuss sensitive subjects, and that state media suggests even benign-sounding puns may now be targeted.