Learn from Alibaba penalty, China warns internet firms

China's market regulator, fresh from fining e-commerce giant Alibaba US$2.75 billion (RM11.38 billion), said on Tuesday it warned nearly three dozen Internet companies to stop using any banned practices such as forcing vendors to use their platform exclusively.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said it summoned 34 companies including Tencent, ByteDance and JD.com for a meeting, where it ordered them to conduct self-inspections within one month, warning of "severe punishment" for any that still violated the rules.

In February, China issued new...