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China in internet café crackdown
Banned from near schools to protect kids' "mental health"…

By Zen Lee

Published: Thursday 25 March 2004

Maintaining its iron-clad stance on information censorship, Chinese authorities have now banned internet cafes from sprouting up near residences and schools.

Internet-cafe owners are barred from operating within a 200-meter radius from residential areas and education institutions, according to local newswire Xinhua.

Industry regulator, the General Administration for Industry and Commerce (GAIC) issued this new directive to protect children's "mental health", the report said.

GAIC is reportedly concerned that internet cafes in China, especially unlicensed ones, continue to flout rules which prohibit the admission of minors. The market watchdog is also worried the proliferation of such operations could "spread unhealthy online information" to youths, the report added.

"They [internet cafes] have brought great harm to the mental health of teenagers and interfere with school teaching, which has aroused strong reactions from the public," the GAIC was quoted as saying.

Besides stepping up checks, the GAIC has issued a stern warning that operators found admitting juveniles or permitting access to undesirable information will face tough penalties.

The latest move further illustrates the paradox confronting the Chinese government. On one hand, officials want citizens to keep pace with the internet revolution but on the other, it fears the unbounded web could be an avenue to spread subversive political ideas or other controversial content.

To address the issue, the Chinese government previously announced plans to consolidate all 110,000 internet cafes in the mainland under the management of larger state-owned companies over the next few years.

Zen Lee writes for CNET Asia