China’s TikTok Rival Kuaishou Hit by Cyberattack That Flooded Platform With Porn and Violent Content

One of China’s most popular short-video platforms, Kuaishou, was hit by a major cyberattack this week that temporarily flooded its livestreaming service with pornographic and violent content, stunning users in a country with tightly controlled internet regulations.

The Beijing-based company said the attack occurred around 10 p.m. Monday and lasted for about 90 minutes, during which thousands of explicit and graphic videos appeared across livestreams. The incident sparked widespread outrage on Chinese social media, with users questioning how such content could spread so rapidly on a heavily censored platform.

Kuaishou, a major rival to TikTok’s Chinese version Douyin, blamed the attack on what it described as “underground and gray industries,” a term commonly used in China to describe illegal or semi-legal online operations. The company said it reported the incident to police and that services have since returned to normal.

State-run media later reported that the attack may have been powered by artificial intelligence. A Chinese cybersecurity firm cited by state outlets said hackers deployed roughly 17,000 bot accounts to stream prohibited content, overwhelming Kuaishou’s defenses and effectively paralyzing its livestreaming service. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Despite China’s strict censorship system, which includes real-name registration and the Great Firewall blocking foreign websites, cyberattacks remain a persistent issue. China’s internet regulator has warned that the scale and frequency of attacks continue to grow, citing millions of attempted malware transmissions daily. New regulations introduced this year require platforms to promptly report security breaches to authorities.

The incident comes as China debates tougher penalties for spreading obscene content online, including proposed amendments that have drawn public backlash. While some reports suggested the new rules could criminalize even private sharing of explicit material, state media later clarified that this interpretation was incorrect.

Kuaishou has more than 416 million daily active users, making it China’s second-largest short-video platform. The cyberattack briefly rattled investor confidence, sending the company’s Hong Kong-listed shares down as much as 6 percent.

Cybersecurity experts say the incident highlights how automated attacks can overwhelm traditional, manual moderation systems in seconds, exposing vulnerabilities even in tightly regulated online environments.

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