China to ban violent online games

(AP) -- China has banned Web sites from advertising or linking to games that glamorize violence, another step in China's censorship campaign aimed at ensuring social stability ahead of the 60th anniversary of communist rule on Oct. 1.

A notice posted on the Culture Ministry Web site on Monday said games that promote drug use, obscenities, gambling, or crimes such as rape, vandalism and theft are "against public morality and the nation's fine cultural traditions."

"Such online games promote the glorification of mafia life ... and are a serious threat to the moral standards of society causing vulnerable young people to be adversely affected," the notice said. The ban on the Web sites starts immediately.

No details were given on how the law would be implemented, but the notice called for law enforcement bodies to ensure Web sites adhere to the new law.

China has the world's largest population of Internet users, more than 298 million, and the world's most extensive system of Web monitoring and censorship.

While the government claims the main targets of its Web censorship are pornography, online gambling, and other sites deemed harmful to society, critics say that often acts as cover for detecting and blocking sensitive political content that can be found on sites such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, which are all blocked in China.

©2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

   

• ormondotvos - Jul 28, 2009
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
  Congratulations. Kids should at least be aware that criminality is frowned on, even if they gain access to it.
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• docknowledge - Jul 28, 2009
  • Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
  Totally agree. It's time an important group took a stand put a stop to glamorizing violence.
  
  Yes, congratulations, China.
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• ShotmanMaslo - Jul 29, 2009
  • Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
  What? This is just wrong. Games are just more advanced form of art. If there is nothing wrong with violent films or books, then there is nothing wrong with violent games. Yes, children shouldnt play them, but this is the responsibility of their parents. Adult people SHOULD have the option! This is just another form of censorship and state messing with peoples rights. Freedom of artistic expression attacked by state. People should have as much freedom as they want and the golden rule is your freedom ends where another persons freedom begins, or where your freedom could make harm. How is an adult person playing violent online game making harm to anyone?
  This is totality.
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