BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific

China acts on net 'addicts'

Chinese police want to monitor internet activity

The Chinese authorities have shut down almost 2,000 internet cafes and ordered another 6,000 to suspend their operations because of concerns over the influence of the internet on teenagers.

The government had already expressed alarm over the popularity of pornographic websites and the availability of material it considers subversive.

For many young people, internet cafes provide the best way to get online in a country where home computers are still relatively rare.

Teenage threat

But state media have published frequent complaints from anxious parents whose teenage children have stayed out for days and nights.

China's official news agency said that, since April around 57,000 internet cafes had been inspected.

Nearly 2,000 had been shut down and at least 6,000 ordered to suspend business and make changes.

Security software

Experts say such changes include installing software which allows local police to monitor which websites are being accessed from a cafe's computers.

Requirements for internet cafe owners to hold a licence are also being more strictly enforced and some cities have banned new cafes from opening close to schools.

Figures released this week show China's internet users grew by around four million in the first half of this year to over 26 million.

'Superstition and pornography'

Yet, while even primary schools are now increasingly teaching internet skills, concerns about content were highlighted this month by President Jiang Zemin.

He called for reinforced legislation against what he described as superstition, pornography, violence and pernicious information on the internet.

The Chinese Government continues to block websites operated by some foreign media organisations as well as those of dissident groups and the banned Falun Gong movement.

But officials acknowledge it is almost impossible to filter out all unwelcome information.