BEIJING, Sept 19 (Reuters) - China's market regulator

launched an investigation into Kauigou, an e-commerce unit of

live-streaming service provider Kuaishou Technology ( KUASF ),

over suspected violations of China's e-commerce law, it said on

Friday.

The live-streaming e-commerce industry is "plagued by

illegal and irregular occurrences such as false marketing and

counterfeit products despite repeated bans," the State

Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement.

The investigation is aimed at protecting consumers and small

and medium-sized businesses, it added.

Kuaigou will "actively cooperate with the regulatory

authorities in the investigation and take this opportunity to

improve our compliance level," the company said in a statement

released later on Friday via its social media account.

(Writing by Joe Bavier)