China has reportedly fined several of its biggest online platforms over illegal child content.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has summoned Kuaishou, Tencent's messaging tool QQ, Alibaba's Taobao and Weibo, the BBC said on Wednesday.

The internet watchdog told the platforms that they must rectify and “clean up” all illegal content and fined each of them.

The move comes as China starts a crackdown on technology companies.

"The operation is focused on solving seven types of prominent online problems that endanger the physical and mental health of minors,” the authority said in a statement.

According to the news broadcaster, they are as follows:

• Children on livestreams and becoming social media influencers, promoting "money worship" and extravagance
• Pornographic and violent content
• Inappropriate cartoons that had erotic and violent content
• Forums that encourage behaviour like suicide or engaging in child porn
• Fan clubs where children were involved in fundraising activities
• "Bad social behaviour" such as cyberbullying
• Inadequate measures to combat youth internet addiction

It’s been reported that the platforms have been given a deadline remove content that violate the guidelines. The statement did not give details on the length of time companies have to carry out the order or how much the fines were.

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