By John Liu, CNN

Hong Kong (CNN) — One of China’s most popular short-video and streaming platforms was flooded with porn and violent content earlier this week, sparking outrage and bafflement in a nation where the internet is tightly controlled.

Kuaishou, a major rival of TikTok’s Chinese version Douyin, suffered a cyberattack around 10 p.m. on Monday that unleashed thousands of vulgar and violent videos on its livestreaming service for about 90 minutes, shocking hundreds of millions of users across China.

“What happened to Kauishou? The moment I scroll into a livestream, it’s nothing but porn,” one user said on popular Chinese social media Weibo.

“Kuaishou has gone mad. My eyes are going to go blind,” another user said.

In a Tuesday statement, the Beijing-based company blamed the attacks on “underground and gray industries,” which in China refers to ecosystems of illegal or quasi-legal operations that exploit the internet for illicit profit.

Kuaishou said it had reported the incident to the police and that its app has gradually resumed normal operations.

China maintains one of the world’s most extensive and effective internet censorship systems, tightly controlling what users can see and quickly scrubbing content. Pornography remains illegal in China.

Despite stringent internet controls like real-name verification and the Great Firewall that blocks access to many foreign websites, cyberattacks are not uncommon in China.

The country’s internet regulator rolled out new rules in September mandating online platforms’ prompt and detailed reporting of security breaches to the authorities.

“The scale and frequency of cyberattacks continue to rise. The volume of malware is steadily increasing, with an average of more than 3.49 million transmission attempts per day,” the Cyberspace Administration of China said in a statement explaining the need for new regulations.

As of now, no actor has claimed responsibility for the Kuaishou cyberattack.

State-run media China Daily reported on Wednesday that the attack was powered by artificial intelligence, saying the perpetrator bypassed security systems, compromised user data, and deployed 17,000 bot accounts to stream pornographic and violent content, paralyzing the platform’s livestreaming service, citing a Chinese cybersecurity firm QAX.

CNN has reached out to Kuaishou for further comment.

Kuaishou is China’s second largest short-video social media with more than 416 million of daily active users, trailing only behind Douyin, according to data in its third quarter report.

The cyberattack sent the company’s Hong Kong-listed shares down as much as 6% on Tuesday.

Wang Liejun, a cybersecurity expert at QAX, attributed the scale of the damage largely to the use of “automated attacks,” noting that many online platforms still rely on traditional, manual defense models.

Hackers use automated tools to register accounts in bulk and control bot networks, allowing prohibited content to be released and spread within seconds – far beyond the limits of what manual review systems can handle, Wang told state-run media The Paper.

“Obscene content”

The incident comes amid a controversial law amendment that has sparked heated online debate over tighter restrictions and higher fines for spreading obscene content on the internet.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" screened at the Alcazar Theatre in Carpinteria for a worthy cause.

The screening during Tuesday's rainy afternoon was part of the nonprofit's Season of Giving holiday film series.

Ticket sales and donations will help Santa Barbara Humane in both Santa Barbara and Santa Maria in the New Year.

Pet donations piled up under a tree and some of the items came from Juno the Klepto Kat.

They include tea towels she has found on her adventures.

Santa Barbara Humane Chief Philanthropy Officer Paige Van Tuyl said she was grateful to the Alcazar and the Carpinteria community for coming out.

"We are all about keeping animals and their families together especially during the holiday season, " said Van Tuyl.

She also shared some advice for dog walkers during the storm.

"Just make sure your dog knows that everything is going to be okay and they may not want to go out as often but it will be fine this storm will pass."

The Alcazar has all kinds of things going on that will help people find shelter from the incoming storms.

For more information visit https://sbhumane.org or https://thealcazar.org

The post Grinch screening benefits Santa Barbara Humane appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) People expected the storm to arrive on Tuesday and it did with heavy rain and soft showers at times.

Adam Angel's namesake Adam McKaig said it gave them a reason to get a jump start on poncho deliveries.

"We are out and about making sure that people are not only warm and fed but are protected from the rain, we have a nice rain in the weather right now, so we are trying to get a jump start on the rain storm," said McKaig.

He said they will give out hundreds of ponchos to keep people dry on Christmas Eve.

"And tomorrow at Pershing park at 5 O'clock we are setting up canopies where we will serve a warm meals, nonperishable bags of food and Christmas cheer," said McKaig.

"It warms my heart, it is cold outside my heart is warm and my community keeps us going we have a lot of volunteers with big hearts."

The storm is likely to get heavier.

First responders are already out and about protecting people.

The Holiday trolley also made the rounds in the rain especially at the Milpas Roundabout.

Your News Channel will have more on the storm tonight on the new.

The post Showers dampen Santa Barbara County appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

GAVIOTA COAST, Calif. (KEYT) – Fire crews helped a man to the hospital after his truck rolled over and crashed near railroad tracks on Highway 101 between Refugio and El Capitan State Beaches Tuesday.

Crews arrived just after 8:00 p.m. and spent 30 minutes using the jaws of life to get him out of the car, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Union Pacific received word and stopped train traffic during extrication before resuming a few hours later, according to the SBCFD.

Highway 101 remained open in both directions, though the SBCFD closed Lane #2 going south for precautionary measures.

The cause of the crash is under investigation with the California Highway Patrol.

The post Man suffers moderate injuries from car crash on Highway 101 appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

By Associated Press

(AP) — Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka became the first player to defect from LIV Golf, a significant blow to the Saudi-funded league that raises questions whether the PGA Tour will find a way for him to return.

LIV Golf posted an announcement to its website under a statement that Talor Gooch is the new captain of the Smash team that Koepka had led.

Scott O’Neil, the new CEO of LIV, said Koepka and LIV “amicably and mutually agreed” that Koepka will no longer compete in the league.

“Brooks is prioritizing the needs of his family and staying closer to home,” O’Neil said. “We appreciate the significant impact he has had on the game and wish him continued success, both on and off the course.”

LIV does not disclose contracts, though it was believed Koepka had another year left from when he joined in June 2022.

The PGA Tour policy banning players who have joined the rival league requires them to sit out for one year from their last participation. LIV ended its season on Aug. 24.

Koepka began his career on the European tour and would have access to play there. He played four European tour events this year, finishing fourth in the French Open a week before the Ryder Cup. He played in the 2023 Ryder Cup, but was not a consideration this year because of his form.

Blake Smith, Koepka’s manager at Hambric Sports, said there would be no comment beyond a statement released through LIV Golf that Koepka is grateful for his time at LIV.

“Family has always guided Brooks’s decisions, and he feels this is the right moment to spend more time at home,” the statement said. “Brooks will continue to be a huge supporter of LIV Golf and wishes the league and its players continued success. Brooks remains passionate about the game of golf and will keep fans updated on what’s ahead.”

The PGA Tour, while not offering any substance, took the rare step of acknowledging the move involving a player who is no longer a member.

“Brooks Koepka is a highly accomplished professional, and we wish him and his family continued success,” the tour said in a statement. “The PGA Tour continues to offer the best professional golfers the most competitive, challenging and lucrative environment in which to pursue greatness.”

Koepka had alerted the PGA Tour of his plans before the LIV announcement, according to one person aware of communication. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not been publicly disclosed.

The first step for Koepka to return would be to re-apply for membership. He was not among the LIV players who were part of the antitrust lawsuit filed against the PGA Tour in 2022.

Koepka, who spent 47 weeks at No. 1 in the world in 2018 and 2019, was one of the biggest signings by LIV when it launched in 2022. He had been coping with injuries and later suggested he might not have joined had his health been better.

He had been part of a meeting at the 2022 U.S. Open with top PGA Tour players a week earlier encouraging them to rally around the tour. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan had even gone to Koepka’s wedding in the Caribbean weeks before he jumped over to LIV.

Koepka was the first LIV player to win a major in 2023 when he won the PGA Championship at Oak Hill for his fifth major. Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Open the following year.

Koepka won five times on LIV Golf, but he had only two top 10s — his best was a runner-up — in 2025 and finished 31st in the standings of the 54-man circuit. He missed the cut in five of the eight tournaments