Tencent Music Cracks Down on AI and Copyright Abuse as Streaming Platforms Face New Era of Policing

Tencent Music Cracks Down on AI and Copyright Abuse as Streaming Platforms Face New Era of Policing

Tencent Music Entertainment says it removed more than 250,000 songs from its platforms in 2025 as part of an aggressive effort to combat copyright abuse, fraudulent uploads and emerging risks tied to AI-generated music.

The sweeping enforcement campaign, detailed in the company’s latest ESG report, highlights how global streaming services are increasingly being forced into the role of digital gatekeepers as AI tools flood music platforms with new content.

Tencent Music, which operates major Chinese services including QQ Music, also reviewed more than 600,000 cases involving what it classified as “high-risk” copyright material during the year.

Much of the crackdown targeted what the company describes as gray-market manipulation tactics. That included “song theft,” where ownership metadata is altered; “song laundering,” involving plagiarized or modified tracks; and “trend hijacking,” in which users attempt to exploit algorithms with misleading or opportunistic uploads.

Tencent says these practices damage legitimate creators by diverting revenue, distorting recommendation systems and weakening trust in digital catalogs.

To identify problematic material, the company has expanded its use of automated moderation systems powered by audio fingerprinting, melody analysis, voice recognition and text-comparison technology. Tencent also introduced a compliance rating system for labels, allowing the platform to penalize repeat offenders through suspensions or even termination of partnerships.

But the most closely watched part of the report centers on AI governance. Tencent Music confirmed it is now actively identifying and labeling AI-generated music on its platforms while implementing additional review systems around generative content.

Crucially, the company also stated that any copyrighted material used for AI model training is licensed directly from rights holders, a notable distinction at a time when many AI music companies face lawsuits and backlash over unauthorized training practices.

The disclosure places Tencent alongside other streaming giants now racing to establish rules for AI music. Deezer has already reported that nearly half of its daily uploads are fully AI-generated, while Spotify and Apple Music have both introduced new AI disclosure systems in recent months.

The broader challenge facing the industry is becoming increasingly clear: streaming platforms are no longer just distributing music, they are now responsible for verifying authenticity, monitoring AI usage and protecting copyright at unprecedented scale.