Jiangsu Consumer Protection Committee interviewed 14 companies including Tencent: requiring pop-up windows to be closed with one click for barrier-free implementation

The frequent appearance of "pop-up ads" not only affects the mood and work efficiency of Internet users, but also leads to information fraud, Trojan horse implantation, etc.

In addition, when using computers in some public places, there may even be some overly explicit "borderline" advertisements. When you try to close the pop-up window but click a fake close button or can't find the close button at all, I believe you are already very angry at this point.

According to media reports, today, the Jiangsu Provincial Consumer Protection Committee publicly summoned 14 companies including Tencent, Qihoo, Sogou, and Thunder regarding the problem of online pop-up windows discovered in previous investigations, in order to urge the relevant companies to fulfill their principal responsibilities.

According to the report, the Jiangsu Consumer Protection Committee required the above-mentioned enterprises to complete seven rectifications within seven working days. The rectification contents are as follows:

1. Ensure that the content of the pop-up window is legal and compliant;

2. Clearly mark the word "advertisement" and the source of the content;

3. Ensure that “one-click shutdown” can be implemented without any obstacles;

4. Optimize pop-up window size, pop-up frequency and other issues;

5. Optimize network pop-up window settings and set pop-up cycle;

6. Uncheck the default option for download;

7. Strengthen the software review mechanism;

The companies said they will actively follow up, and some have already come up with rectification and optimization plans.

In July this year, a PC application software pop-up window investigation report released by the Jiangsu Provincial Consumer Protection Committee showed that 11 out of 30 application software had problematic pop-up windows, accounting for 37% of the total investigated. Four randomly selected third-party download platforms had problems such as bundled downloads and induced promotions to varying degrees.

Industry experts believe that strengthening supervision is only one part of the solution to the problem of pop-up ads.

Relevant departments must further promote the refinement of relevant laws and regulations, establish a complete, scientific and reasonable management and control mechanism, clarify the respective rights and responsibilities of Internet advertisers, advertising operators and advertising publishers, increase penalties, increase the cost of violations and strengthen regulatory technology. Only in this way can we hope to eradicate the "psoriasis" of pop-up ads that cannot be turned off on the Internet.