Chinese portal Sina fined over ‘indecent’ material
BEIJING, CHINA— Sina Corp., a popular Chinese Internet portal operator, says regulators have fined it $815,000 for allowing “unhealthy and indecent content” on its websites.
The penalties against Sina come amid an official crackdown that also has resulted in some microblogs being shut down and some Internet users punished on charges of spreading rumors.
Sina said regulators also revoked two of its licenses for Internet publication and online transmission of audio-visual programs.
China has the world’s biggest population of Internet users, with more than 600 million people online. The ruling Communist Party encourages Internet use for business and education but tries to block access to material considered obscene or subversive.
Sina said it was evaluating the impact of the penalties on its business operations.
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