According to spokesperson from the State Internet Information Office (SIIO), a number of websites have been investigated and prosecuted for rumour mongering. This crackdown has been launched in response to recent online rumours claiming that tanks were seen on the streets of Beijing and that "something bad" was likely to go down in the capital.
A small number of websites have infringed on related national laws, failing to manage their websites properly and thereby allowing these rumours to surface. According to the SIIO, these types of rumours have a negative impact on society and must therefore be seriously investigated. Accordingly, 16 websites have been shut down as a result, including meizhou.net, xn528.com forum, 322100.cn, ezeem.com and 12 others.
Moreover, Sina and Tencent were also heavily criticised and punished by the Beijing and Guangzhou Internet Information Departments for allowing rumours to be spread on their platforms.
See also: Report: Number of Foreign Cyber-Attacks on China "Intensified" in 2011
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Keywords: censorship China rumour mongering China Chinese websites shut down 2012 State Internet Information Office China website crackdown China
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