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China clamps down on unsavoury broadband content

The Chinese government has taken steps to tighten the country’s broadband content.

Authorities are concerned that unsuitable broadband material, such as pornography, suggestive imagery and vulgar messages could tarnish young minds and potentially effect mental and physical health.

The Chinese clean-up broadband campaign is being coordinated by seven government ministries. Currently 19 broadband sites have been placed on a blacklist – each have been asked to clean up their broadband content or face the consequences.

The BBC reports comments made by a Chinese government official, Cai Mingzhao: “We will continue to expose, punish or close down websites that have a lot of vulgar content,” he said.

Broadband websites called into question include Google, and the popular Chinese search engine Baidu.

However, the tightening of broadband content is being viewed, by some, as another means for the Chinese Government to impose restrictions on freedom of speech.

The country is notorious for keeping political dissent under wraps, and questions are being asked as to whether the banning of certain broadband content could be extended to sites which the Government doesn’t want in the public domain.

Another of the 19 websites currently listed is the broadband forum Tianya, which is popular with broadband surfers who post their criticisms of the Chinese government. This site was the original exposure site for the Chinese Slave Scandal.

08/01/2009
Author: CompareBroadbandUK staff writer

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