Rules come at a time when President Xi Jinping is scaling up control over cyberspace. (File)
The Chinese government is holding chief editors of news websites personally liable for content after several portals this year posted material that was seen as embarrassing to President Xi Jinping.
State media reported today that the new rules placed responsibility squarely on head editors, saying news sites must monitor their content 24 hours a day to ensure "correct orientation, factual accuracy and appropriate sourcing."
The rules come at a time when Xi is ratcheting up control over Chinese media and cyberspace.
Tencent, one of China's most popular websites, fired its top editor after a July headline mistakenly said Xi delivered a "furious" - instead of "important" - speech commemorating a Communist Party anniversary. In March, an online portal called Wujie appeared to inadvertently publish a letter calling for Xi's resignation.