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China's grip on the internet is tightening, with the government revoking foreigners' right to live-stream.

Many foreigners have found their social media accounts suspended without warning after live-streaming sessions, reports Sixth Tone. It's happened on platforms like Yizhibo, backed by Chinese giant Weibo, and Blued, China's biggest gay social-networking app.

It follows the government last December putting in place a new set of regulations that forbid non-Chinese nationals from broadcasting live without first applying to the local Ministry of Culture for a license.

Although those rules came into effect in January, proper instructions on how foreigners can apply for their broadcasting licenses remain unclear, an unnamed employee from a streaming company told Sixth Tone.

The new regulations give the Chinese government more control on the country's booming live-streaming market, which is estimated to be 325 million-users strong. It's not the only new e-measure though, with the government last month declaring VPN use to be illegal if not authorised with officials.