Authorities Begin to Sanction, Permanently Shut Down Web Sites That Failed to Register With the Government

August 1, 2005

On July 2, Xinhua reported that Chinese agencies in charge of controlling the Internet had temporarily shut down over 100,000 Web sites because their operators failed to register with the Ministry of Information Industry (MII). Xinhua stated that these Web sites would have until July 10 to register. Since the July 10 deadline passed, China's state run media has begun reporting that provincial authorities are sanctioning and permanently shutting down thousands of Web sites that have still failed to register.

On July 2, Xinhua reported that Chinese agencies in charge of controlling the Internet had temporarily shut down over 100,000 Web sites because their operators failed to register with the Ministry of Information Industry (MII). Xinhua stated that these Web sites would have until July 10 to register. Since the July 10 deadline passed, China's state run media has begun reporting that provincial authorities are sanctioning and permanently shutting down thousands of Web sites that have still failed to register.

Shandong Shuts Down 404 Internet Web Sites That Refuse to Carry Out Registration (Xinhua 2005-07-18)

According to the Shandong Communications Administration, authorities have almost completed "Internet Web site rectification" in the province. The article stated that, as of midnight on July 10, 404 Web sites had failed to register, and the provincial Communications Administration had decided to shut down these Web sites, and demanded that their Internet access providers stop providing them Internet access services. The article claimed that "harmful" information on the Internet was "severely poisoning people's souls," and that "the Internet must be regulated and must be supervised."

Guizhou Increases Monitoring and Supervision of Internet Web Sites (Xinhua 2005-07-17)

According to preliminary statistics, over 1,200 Web sites related to over 2,340 domain names had been registered with Guizhou provincial authorities. The report states that this accounts for only 80 percent of Web sites in Guizhou, and that authorities plan to sanction and shut down Web sites that failed to register.

Jiangsu to Shut Down Over 500 Chat Rooms and BBSs That Have Failed to Register (Nanjing Daily 2005-07-14)

An official at the Jiangsu Communication Administration said that, as of June 11, over 500 Web sites had not been allowed to register, because they had failed to provide proof that they had been authorized by the government to post certain types of content. According to the official, the content included chat rooms, BBS forums, news, publications, and "other contents that must receive prior government authorization." The official said investigations by relevant agencies are pending, and that the number of the Web sites that will be allowed to continue to operate remains to be determined.

In Tianjin 9,000 Web Sites Register; Over 340 Domain Names Are Permanently Shut Down (People's Daily 2005-07-12)

Tianjin Communications Administration officials told reporters that authorities have officially placed 340 domain names that point to over 300 Web sites on a "black list," and that these domain names would never be allowed to re-open.

As part of the registration process, the MII requires anyone who posts news on their Web site to provide proof that they have been authorized by the Chinese government to do so. In addition to requiring Web sites to register with the MII, some large cities in China, such as Beijing, Guangzhou, and Qingdao, are forcing Web sites to register with public security authorities, citing provisions of the Measures for the Administration of Security Protection of Computer Information Networks with International Interconnections.