Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/07/20/china_shuts_down/
China shuts down 2,000 cybercafes
Ministry of Information Industry not happy
Posted in Music and Media, 20th July 2001 16:46 GMT
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Chinese officials have shut down almost 2,000 cybercafes over Net addiction fears.
Another 6,000 Internet cafes have also been ordered to suspend business and make changes, according to today's Shanghai Daily.
The closures were the result of a three month inspection of around 60,000 Internet cafes nationwide.
The move was designed to "clear up" the establishments. It also aimed to bring Net use in line with regulations introduced by the Ministry of Information Industry, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture, and the State Administration of Industry and Commerce in April.
According to the news service, parents in China have been worried about the psychological and physical health of children seen to be spending too much time in Internet cafes.
In addition, the cafes let teenagers peer at porn or violent content.
China has around 26.5 million Net users. ®
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