China orders dozens of websites to close

CHINA will shut down or punish dozens of video-sharing websites for carrying content deemed pornographic, violent or a threat to national security under rules that tighten internet controls, a regulator said yesterday.

The announcement came as Chinese web surfers were blocked from seeing foreign sites with video about protests in Tibet. The new order did not mention the anti-government demonstrations or China’s resulting crackdown.

One of China’s most popular video-sharing sites, Tudou.com, was among those penalised, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said. It gave no details of Tudou’s violation. Other big competitors such as Youku.com and 56.com were not cited.