Ten central government ministries are jointly cracking down on the internet to 'purify' the online environment, state media reported yesterday.
The ministries - which included Public Security, Information Industry and Culture - are launching a six-month campaign to clean up the online environment of 'materials harmful to young people'.
The Communist Party is due to hold a crucial party congress in October, and Chinese leaders have promised to take all necessary measures to ensure social stability ahead of the congress.
According to reports by CCTV and national radio, the latest campaign will target pornography, online gambling and websites, chatrooms and other content that it says spread 'rumours and malicious messages'.
The crackdown would also cover online forums and blogs as well as electronic magazines.
The report blamed the spread of such 'harmful materials' on foreign infiltration.