Young people in China are being corrupted by online sex and violence, say the country's leaders. Accordingly, they're launching new attacks on "unhealthy" Net content.

"The nation's leading news sites and internet portals have vowed to adhere to a strict programme of 'self-censorship' to support the 'Eight Honours and Disgraces', a new doctrine of 'socialist morality' recently laid out by Hu Jintao, the Chinese President," says the Times Online.

Qianlong.com, Sohu.com, Sina.com, Netease, Tom.com, China.com, Baidu.com, Ynet, Zhongsou.com, Xilu.com, Xici.net, Yahoo, Hexun and Daqi.com had been invited to put forward proposals, "regarding the healthy management of their online domains".

The move is the latest in a string of initiatives by China designed to cement the government's already formidable hold over online content, says the Times Online, continuing:

"The proposals have been backed by 11 China-based news sites, including Xinhuanet.com and Chinadaily.com.cn, which said they would back 'self-censorship' to 'resist indecent content'.

As the web develops quickly, "certain sites are transmitting unhealthy news ... and uncivilised voice services, including pornographic content that can be harmful to society," says a document from the The Internet Society of China (ISC).

Interestingly, although Yahoo features on the list, Google and Microsoft's MSN Network, both of which also help China with its censorshop efforts, don't.

Also See:
Times Online - Beijing's war on online sex and violence, April 25, 2006
healthy management - China's 8 Net Honors, 8 Shames, April 11, 2006

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