Efforts made to monitor, regulate cyberspace

China will strengthen efforts to regulate behavior in cyberspace to provide a better online environment for the public and promote further development of the internet.

A document issued by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, called for a more sound cyberspace governance, requiring all Party and government departments to guide netizens to surf the internet in a civil manner.

The move is to meet people's urgent need for better lives as well as to accelerate the building of China into a cyber power and a modern socialist country in an all-around way, according to the document, which was published on Tuesday.

While encouraging departments to make rules to regulate online behavior, the document asks government agencies, schools, families and social organizations to join hands to guide youngsters to behave well in cyberspace and help prevent online security risks.

It clarifies that a work system to prevent young people from excessive use of the internet should be improved, adding that online bullying involving young people must be curbed.

To promote the healthy development of the internet industry, online platforms are also ordered to enhance awareness of national security and strengthen their self-regulation, said the document.

A series of national campaigns to clean up the online environment should be continuously promoted, with stronger efforts to fight online violations and crimes, it said.

Irregularities in some industries, such as livestreaming platforms and public accounts, as well as online disinformation must be combated, it said, adding that channels for people to report improper behavior online should also be provided.

Besides implementing internet-related laws, including the Personal Information Protection Law and Data Security Law, Party and government organs have also been required to accelerate drawing up regulations related to broadcasting and television, online crime prevention and cultural promotion.

China has seen rapid growth of the internet in recent years and taken various measures to clean up the online environment.

A report released by the China Internet Network Information Center in August showed that the number of netizens in the country had surpassed 1 billion as of June, of whom, about 158 million are aged between 6 and 19.

In May, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the nation's top internet watchdog, announced the launch of the 2021 Clean and Healthy Cyberspace Initiative, which included several campaigns, such as those to fight fake online information and guide youngsters to follow celebrities in a sensible or civil manner.

The measures came after the authority found a number of irregularities in cyberspace.