China Roundup: Amazon bans 3,000 sellers in crackdown on fake reviews

Amazon blocks 600 Chinese brands, 3,000 sellers in crackdown on fake reviews

• Most of the blocked merchants paid to have good reviews left on their products, while others were alleged to have paid bribes, misidentified themselves, or sold counterfeit products, said Cindy Tai, vice president of Amazon’s Asian outfit.
• The executive stated that the move was not influenced by geopolitics and tension between the US and China.
• Amazon started its attack on false reviews in May and the campaign has also affected some top brands on its website.

China doubles down on tax enforcement for entertainers, online personalities

• Regulators plan to conduct regular tax investigations into high-income stars as it deepens its clampdown on the entertainment and online media industry.
• Those who self-report may be given lesser fines, while those who don’t will be “punished seriously according to the law,” China’s State Taxation Administration said.
• Results of investigations will be disclosed to the public to ensure transparency.