Upset Net users show their discontent on censor's website

The website of a government internet censor in Hunan was attacked by hackers yesterday in what appears to be retaliation by disgruntled internet users who failed to get websites approved.

From about 6pm, the homepage of the Hunan Communications Administration website was defaced with the message: 'I am fed up - I've tried to register my website for several months. Why haven't they approved it yet? Have they already gone home for the Lunar New Year?'

The message stayed on the site for an hour. Repeated telephone calls to the administration went unanswered last night.

'I think it's an expression of dissatisfaction from people who failed to have their websites approved,' said Zhou Shuguang, a well-known blogger. 'It is a show of anger.'

People who wish to register websites on the mainland face draconian regulations which require them to obtain a plethora of approvals from various government departments.

Different levels of communications administrations act as supervisory authorities, empowered to approve websites as well as close those that are deemed 'unhealthy'.