China Busts 10K in Internet Crackdown

Activists worry busts just part of attack on dissidents
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 27, 2012 2:24 AM CDT
China Busts 10K People in Internet Crackdown
A police officer stands guard over illegal firearms burning during a ceremony to destroy illegal weapons in Yuxi city, Yunnan province, last month.   (AP Photo)

Pornographers, gun dealers, counterfeiters, and information thieves—those are just some of the cybercriminals Chinese authorities say they've caught in a four-month crackdown on Internet crimes, reports USA Today. All told, an incredible 10,000 people were arrested and 600 gangs broken up. Oh, and 3.2 million messages were deleted for being "harmful," hundreds of Internet cafes closed, and 30 Internet service providers punished for allowing access to banned sites. For good measure, the police also threatened to bust those who generate rumors about the Communist Party, its leaders, or the government. (More China stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X