China talks tough about illegal online publicity
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China will launch a two-month campaign beginning the middle of this month, to crack down on "illegal" publicity activities on the Internet.
The crackdown aims to "curb a strong momentum of illegal Internet publicity activities," said a statement issued by the International Communication Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Wednesday.
Over the past several years, some publicity activities conducted over the Internet have violated the country's disciplines and laws, it said.
Some companies and individuals had recruited "Internet mercenaries" and other illegal organizations to engage in improper competition against rivals, blackmailing by fabricating and distorting facts, and reaping profits by sensationalizing issues over the Internet.
Disrupting the order of market economy and undermining public interests, these activities have aroused strong discontent from the public, who demand the government regulate against such improper activities, the statement said.
According to it, the campaign will mainly target "notorious illegal Internet publicity activities" and crack major cases involving such activities.
The statement said a work plan had been issued by the International Communication Office of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
The work plan has not been made public so far.
China has the world's largest Internet community with some 457 million users by the end of last year.
Media reports said many seemingly spontaneous Internet sensations were actually orchestrated publicity stunts.
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