China launches crackdown on junk email

22 February 2006

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Beijing, Feb 22 China has launched a crackdown on junk emails as part of a pack of measures taken by the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) to clear the Internet and mobile phone networks in the country.

A new regulation on email servers was released Tuesday and a centre was set up to receive complaints about junk email.

A survey conducted by the China Internet Association shows that during the period from August 2004 to April 2005, Chinese netizens received an average of 16.8 pieces of junk email every week, accounting for over 60 percent of their total received email.

"China has become a country seriously affected by junk mail," said Li Guobin, an official with the MII.

The market admittance system was adopted for email server providers in the regulation and the IP address of the server are also required to be registered.

The regulation says that email for advertising purposes should not be sent to subscribers without their permission. Additionally, advertising emails should be sent with the title of "advertisement" or "AD".

Punishment will be given to violators of the regulation.

During the activity, the China Internet Association will release a name-list of email servers accused of sending junk mails for better supervision.

Apart from the junk mail, the Chinese information industry regulator will require real name registration for mobile phone users. Short messages sent through handsets will be put under tight control as illegal messages spread more and more widely.

Statistics with the China Internet Network Information Centre show that the number of netizens has hit 111 million and information telecommunication has become a major force driving the national economy and social development.

The ministry will improve management over information network, including the Internet, mobile communication and traditional telecom network, said Xi Guohua, Vice Minister of Information Industry.

Apart from the crackdown on illegal information, the project will also promote the use of information resources, e-business, e-education and on-line entertainment. (IAN)

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