China Targets Internet Cafes

BEIJING -- Chinese leaders have launched a new nationwide campaign to further regulate control over Internet cafes in an attempt to ban exposure to pornography for children.

By suspending the issuance of new licenses and ordering local officials to crack down on unregistered or loosely managed operations, government leaders are reacting to concerns over unfettered and anonymous access to the Web.

“The focus [of the campaign] is on putting an end to the transmission of harmful information -- mainly that which is pornographic or obscene -- and preventing harm to young people’s physical and mental health,” an administration official told China News Service.

In a formal notice this week from China’s Administration for Industry and Commerce, government leaders said that using the Internet in many cases spreads “harmful cultural information and seriously hurts the mental and physical health of young people.”

The officials also worry that students spend too much time at Internet cafes playing video games.

“In some places regulation is lax, enforcement weak, and the illegal entry of minors to Internet cafes and other service areas has been often forbidden, but never stopped,” the Administration for Industry and Commerce report said.

Beijing started barring minors from Internet cafes two years ago, forbidding their operation within 600 feet of schools or in residential compounds, and requiring users to prove their identity and sign a register. The regulations also banned the distribution, downloading, or reading of government secrets, harmful libel or content that is “harmful to national unity.”

But the regulations have been widely ignored after the inspection of 45,000 Internet cafes during a few months in 2002.

Up to 15 percent of children in large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou use Internet cafes, according to a study last year. The same study said that only 30 percent of the population has access to a computer at home.

The government, which also threatened to punish efforts to “clandestinely set up an online service” by disguising it as a computer school, said the proposed “clean up” campaign will last until August.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More