Chinas TV and film watchdog has ordered three major web portals, including social media site Sina Weibo, to shut down video and audio streaming services, because they are in violation of state rules.

According to a report in China Daily, the other two platforms hit by the order are news portal Ifeng.com and ACFUN, an online video site where viewers can leave comments alongside the videos in real-time.

The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television said in a statement that the three sites had provided audio-visual services without gaining the appropriate certificates and that they had screened “many politically-related programs that do not conform with state rules and social commentary programs that propagate negative remarks and opinions”.

It added that it had ordered the authorities to take effective measures to shut the audio-visual services down “so to create a cleaner cyberspace”.

Just last month, the administration punished Tencent for showing self-made political and live news programs.