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

Campaign targets wordplay and memes that are often used by people to get around censorship controls

China's internet regulators have launched a campaign cracking down on puns and homophones, one of the last remaining ways for citizens to safely discuss sensitive subjects without recriminations or censorship.

The clear and bright" campaign is targeting irregular and uncivilised" language online, particularly jokes, memes, and wordplay, the Cyberspace Administration of China and the ministry of education announced this month.