Douyin, the Chinese version of short video app TikTok, had been slapped maximum fines for fostering and spreading obscene, pornographic and vulgar content, said China's internet watchdog on Friday.

"ByteDance-owned Douyin publicizes obscenity, gambling, violence and abets these crimes, endangering social morality and traditional Chinese culture," the National Office for the Fight Against Pornography and Illegal Publications went on record as saying.

Some Douyin anchors were called out for illicit talks with sexual implications, indirectly promoting smoking and swearing in the midst of live streaming, while some comments and bullet screens were identified as vulgar.

The games broadcast by individual anchors, containing bloody, violent, horror scenes, has not been granted approval. It was revealed that some network anchors and platform users employed WeChat accounts, QR codes, and other tactics to allure users to other platforms for illegal activities.

The platform previously claimed it had barred tens of thousands of user accounts last July to clamp down on pornography, prostitution and other related unlawful activities.

Last year, Chinese authorities initiated a national crackdown campaign targeting online pornography and illegal publications.

Cyberspace clean-up is at the front and center of the campaign, especially in terms of vulgar and pornographic content on live streaming platforms, social media, online games and literature.