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  China bans under 16s from cybercafes
Updated 12 October 2002, 14.32
Cybercafé
Children under 16 have been banned from going into cyber or internet cafes from 15 November under tough new rules.

  Click here to find out about the internet

The rules also say no cybercafés, where people can access the internet, can be built within 200 metres (650 feet) of schools.

Fact File
China and the net
1997: Only 500,000 net users
2002: Over 45 million users - second in the world
200,000 cyber cafés in China
Only 46,000 officially registered say officials
Chinese Communist Party watches websites and blocks some it doesn't like, eg Google
Hi-tech police - 'the great firewall of China' - watches net 24 hours a day

And there's a big fine for anyone who breaks the rules.

The new restrictions are being brought in after a fire at a Beijing cybercafé in June killed 25 people. Most were students trapped inside.

Cafes will only be allowed to open during certain hours and they must not lock their doors and windows while they are open, for safety.

Gaming worry

But the Chinese authorities are also worried about what people are able to see and read about other people, opinions and cultures as well as gambling on the internet.

They don't even like people playing computer games, even though it's getting more popular amongst young people there.

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