Smut check: Chinese web censorship.

• Author: Suderman, Peter
• Position: Citings - Brief article

IN FEBRUARY the Chinese government unveiled a new round of Internet restrictions. Under the new rides, any individual seeking to start a personal website, such as a blog or photo-sharing page, must apply in person at their local Internet service provider's offices. Website operators would have to show identification and allow the service provider to take their photo. The materials would then be sent to the government's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The ministry claims the goal of these requirements is to track the spread of digital smut, which is in keeping with a crusade against sexually explicit material that began several years ago. In the summer of 2009, for example, the government asked Google...