Another Chinese Internet Blitz

Published: Friday, December 24, 2004 Online-Casinos.com

ANOTHER CHINESE INTERNET BLITZ

1243 websites closed in China after citizen informants complain

The Chinese authorities completed another of their Internet blitzes this week, closing down "undesireable" sites that included gambling venues, reports Interfax.

China Internet Reporting Center (http://net.china.cn), a special website launched by authorities for citizens to voluntarily report illegal and "unhealthy" online information, has to date shut down 1129 pornographic websites since its launch earlier this year. Zhang Jie, an official with the secretariat of the Information Service Working Committee under the Internet Society of China confirmed this in an interview with Interfax.

"We have received more than 95,000 reports from the public through this website." Zhang said. Besides, another 114 websites have been closed down for spreading cult information or providing gambling and superstitious information. "The center will continue to handle the reports on Internet pornography as a long-term project," Zhang said, "and we will also publicize related information once a week."

As Interfax previously reported, the Chinese government has launched a nationwide campaign to crack down on rampant Internet porn and other sites it deems *undesireable* this year. Following the half year campaign, the proportion of reports on pornographic websites in all reports received has decreased sharply from 67 percent to 17.4 percent at present. "The Internet environment has been greatly improved," Zhang said.

The center has also released a set of "self-disciplinary regulations" requiring search engine operators to stop providing links or any other connection services to websites with inappropriate content. Following this, Chinese policy will put more stress on "fighting against websites that promote gambling, fraud and superstition."

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Another Chinese Internet Blitz