The results of a vote for people's "Top Ten Uncivil Online Behaviors" were published online on September 15 after a week's polling that attracted over 100,000 clicks from internet users and put the spread of rumors and lies at the top of the list.

At the beginning of this month, people were invited to suggest their least favorite online behaviors by the central authorities through xinhuanet.com, Sina, Sohu, youth.cn, CCTV.com, guangmingdaily.com.cn and others.

More than 5,000 suggestions were received in only five days, and voting began on a short list of 22 from September 8. The top ten polled as follows:

1.       Spreading rumors and false information;

2.       Forced advertisements, downloads and registrations;

3.       Production and spread of viruses;

4.       Hostile attacks and disturbance from hackers;

5.       Insults and abuse on forums and in chat rooms;

6.       Online fraud;

7.       Distribution of junk email;

8.       Identity theft;

9.       Propagating pornographic, violent and superstitious files; and

10.   Online sex chat.

"Immoral websites, involving sex, lies, vulgarity and so on, not only seriously influence the normal order of the internet, but also increase its negative use," said Kong Lingyi, chief-secretary of the Central Civilization Office. "The internet has become an essential part of young people's lives. These behaviors pose a great threat to their sense of responsibility, obligation and morality."

Professor Lu Jun of the University of Science and Technology Beijing said, "If people do not trust each other in reality, it is hard to imagine that they would have trust online."

"Uncivil behaviors online are the 'virtual version' of immoral behavior in reality," said Kong. 

"A pure online community does not exist. Every network terminal connects with reality," agreed Professor Lu Shizhen, secretary of the Party Committee of China Youth University for Political Sciences.

She said, "A harmonious online society can be formed only if people scrupulously abide by basic values when communicating online. Thus virtual and real societies can develop harmoniously."

Kong identified three needs to be met when trying to build online morality: those of internet users, the healthy development of the internet, and the construction of a harmonious society.

"It is the responsibility of every netizen to build online morality, and each netizen will benefit from it," said Xu Wenbo, vice director of the Project Mission of Network Civilization. He insists that the construction of a moral sense online can have an active social function.

Wang Yan, CEO of Sina, said self-discipline and alliances are essential to improve the internet and awaken the consciousness of internet users.

(China.org.cn by Li Xiaohua September 22, 2005)