China launches 5-year plan to reduce 'meaningless labour' in digital governance

China’s cyberspace regulator, the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission (CCAC), has initiated a comprehensive, five-year campaign aimed at eliminating bureaucratic hurdles within government apps and social media platforms. Released on Monday, the directive emphasises the need to enhance user-friendliness for the public, steering away from the current trend of officials utilizing these platforms for evaluations and showcasing digital prowess. The CCAC, overseen by the Communist Party, asserts that combating “formalism on the fingertips” is crucial for the party’s image, public favor, and the advancement of the national governance system. This move aligns with President Xi Jinping’s recent warnings against the surge in “new versions of formalism and bureaucratism,” particularly in the digital era. The directive underscores the importance of reducing “meaningless labor” for local cadres, urging a shift towards meaningful tasks that directly benefit the public. Within two years, a mechanism for evaluating digital tools and gathering feedback, with provisions for cancellations, is to be established. Additionally, a five-year timeline is set to implement measures preventing the resurgence or mutation of formalism. The CCAC stresses the necessity of designing software that enhances convenience, discouraging duplicated functions in apps. Unused or impractical apps should be discontinued, promoting efficiency and streamlining resources. -. Instances of excessive workloads due to redundant online tools have been reported in state media. The directive acknowledges successful efforts in Zhangye, Gansu province, where reducing government WeChat and QQ groups significantly alleviated cadres’ responsibilities. Other cities are encouraged to follow suit by reassessing cadres based on tangible, practical contributions rather than arbitrary online metrics.