Anti-porn drive: China closes 2,500 websites

Beijing, December 15

The Chinese government has punished or closed more than 2,500 websites since a national crackdown against online pornography was launched in April this year, the country's anti-pornography office said today.

More than 3.27 million pieces of "harmful information", including those deemed "erotic", had been deleted as of November, according to a statement from the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications.

Launched by the anti-pornography office in collaboration with departments such as the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Cyberspace Administration of China, the campaign has targeted online streaming and the use of cloud storage services to spread pornography. The crackdown aims to create a cleaner cyberspace for Internet users by delivering a forceful blow to illegal activities that spread obscene content online. — PTI