Chinese Censors Probe Baidu, Youku Tudou Over Violent Shows: Xinhua

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 5 June 2014 21:14 IST

Chinese censors are investigating 52 websites owned by firms including top search engine Baidu Inc and online video business Youku Tudou Inc over the distribution of violent and pornographic content, the official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday.

The investigation comes as Chinese authorities tighten their control over the Internet. In April, China's national anti-pornography office stripped Sina Corp of some online publication licences as part of the crackdown.

The latest websites under investigation, which include a web portal owned by Chinese Internet firm NetEase, are suspected of distributing shows such as cartoon series Grimm's Fairy Tales that contain violent and obscene content, Xinhua said, without citing sources.

Advertisement

The news agency said the websites could face criminal and civil penalties if convicted by China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), but gave no further details.

Advertisement

(Also Read: China's Baidu wins US lawsuit over censored search results)

In April, SAPPRFT hit Internet video sites with rare takedown notices for popular U.S. TV shows such as The Big Bang Theory and NCIS without a clear reason. Such shows are not known to contain controversial sexual or political content.

Advertisement

Xinhua said that the investigation into the 52 websites was part of China's campaign to clean up the Internet. To date, Chinese press and publication regulators have banned 122 online publications and punished 93 websites, the news agency said.

© Thomson Reuters 2014

 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Vivo Confirms OriginOS 6 Update Schedule in India: See Release Timeline
  2. Red Magic 11 Pro Series With Liquid Cooling Launched at This Price
  3. OnePlus Pad 2 With Dimensity 9400+ SoC to Launch Alongside OnePlus 15
  4. Kantara: A Legend Chapter-1 Lands on Amazon Prime Video Soon
  5. Marvel's First Family Could Arrive on OTT Platforms Soon
  6. OnePlus Finally Announces Launch Date of OnePlus 15 and OnePlus Ace 6
  1. Vast Space to Launch Haven-1, the World’s First Private Space Station in 2026
  2. Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Soars to 424PPM, Marking Biggest Yearly Jump Ever
  3. Black Hole Tears Star Apart, Sends Out Powerful Flares Six Months Later
  4. Shakthi Thirumagan OTT Release: When, Where to Watch Vijay Antony-Starrer Action Thriller Online?
  5. Former Assassin's Creed Boss Says He Was Asked to 'Step Aside' by Ubisoft
  6. Arshad Warsi's Bhagwat Chapter 1: Raakshas OTT Release: Everything You Need to Know About This Thriller
  7. Vivo Confirms OriginOS 6 Update Rollout Schedule in India: Check Full Release Timeline
  8. Huawei Nova Flip S Launched With 4,400mAh Battery, 2.14-Inch Cover Screen: Price, Features
  9. The Fantastic Four: First Steps Reportedly Set for OTT Debut Soon: All You Need to Know
  10. Huawei Nova 14 Vitality Edition Launched With 5,500mAh Battery, 50-Megapixel Selfie Camera: Price, Specifications
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.