Sina closes book site for content screening
Print Edition
SINA.COM yesterday temporarily closed its literature site after being accused of hosting pornography, as authorities confirmed they were revoking two crucial licenses.
The company decided to take books off its site while it undergoes a “self-correction action” to screen their content, according to a notice on its reading channel. Book reviews, cultural news, author biographies and interviews were still available.
While the government periodically launches campaigns targeting obscene or improper content, this is the first time a major Internet company has faced such a heavy punishment.
The Beijing Cultural Law Enforcement Agency, a body under the city government responsible for clamping down on pornography and illegal publications, said there were still some procedures to go through before Sina’s licenses were revoked.
“We delivered a note of punishment to Sina that states the two licenses will be revoked,” said Shen Rui, head of the online enforcement task force at the agency.
Sina will be fined but the amount has not yet been verified, he said, adding that under the law the penalty should be between five and 10 times the income made from the pornographic material.
The licenses will be revoked by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, he said.
The broadcasting authorities decided to revoke Sina’s licenses on Internet publishing and online audiovisual broadcasting and impose “a large number of fines,” while some of its employees were being investigated by police.
A Sina spokesman declined to comment.
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