China shuts down 34,000 online accounts for spreading ‘rumours’

People play computer games at an Internet cafe in Beijing. CCTV said police also deleted 27,000 pieces of information and blocked more than 500 social accounts for alleged cyberbullying in the time since the ‘Clean Net’ campaign began in April. — AFP

SHANGHAI: Chinese police have shut down 34,000 online accounts and punished more than 6,300 people for allegedly spreading rumours as part of a crackdown launched in April, state media reported on Dec 22.

The Chinese Internet is tightly controlled by the ruling Communist Party, and widespread censorship of social media in the name of protecting social stability is often used to suppress certain stories or critical coverage.