China punishes over 2,500 websites in renewed anti-porn campaign

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 Thursday.

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 (MPS), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), 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 young Internet users by delivering a forceful blow to illegal activities that spread obscene content online, the statement said.

During the campaign, the MPS has blocked over 9 million illegal messages, while the MIIT has had 73 apps removed from app stores for their obscene contents.

The CAC has closed over 310,000 illegal accounts and blocked 462 overseas pornographic websites. It has also issued regulations on live streaming. Endi