China shuts down over 4,000 websites

China has shuttered over 4,000 websites and online accounts in a move against “harmful” information, the official Xinhua news agency said Sept. 22, the BBC and others reported.

The campaign was jointly launched by the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications and the State Administration of Press and Publication in May, Xinhua said.

“As of the end of August, authorities nationwide have amended over 120 relevant violations and ordered 230 enterprises to rectify irregularities, removing or filtering more than 147,000 pieces of harmful information, according to a statement by the two agencies,” Xinhua reported.

The content included copyright infringements and material spreading “improper values, vulgarity or obscenity,” Xinhua said.

The move also seemed to be targeted at platforms offering free e-books, according to the BBC.

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