Chinese Internet operators apologize

January 07, 2009 China on Monday launched a renewed crackdown to stamp out vulgar content on the Internet, which analysts linked to a broader campaign to stifle dissent and protest as the economy slows in a year of politically sensitive anniversaries. Officials named and shamed 19 Internet operators and Web sites, including search engines Google and Baidu, it said had flouted warnings about pornography and other content deemed inappropriate by state censors. "After we received notice from relevant government departments ... (we) cleaned up links to vulgar content that could have adverse effects on Internet users," it said.

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