China puts limits on internet video
Last Updated: Thursday, January 3, 2008 | 9:05 AM ET
The Associated Press
China has decided to restrict the broadcasting of internet videos — including those posted on video-sharing websites — to sites run by state-controlled companies and will require providers to report questionable content to the government.
It wasn't immediately clear how the new rules would affect YouTube and other providers of internet video that host websites available in China but are based in other countries.
The new regulations, which take effect Jan. 31, were approved by both China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Ministry of Information Industry, and were described on their websites Thursday.
Under the new policy, websites that provide video programming or allow users to upload video must obtain government permits and applicants must be either state-owned or state-controlled companies.
The majority of internet video providers in China are private, according to an explanation of the regulations posted on Chinafilm.com, which is run by the state-run China Film Group.
The policy will ban providers from broadcasting video that involves national secrets, hurts the reputation of China, disrupts social stability or promotes pornography. Providers will be required to delete and report such content.
"Those who provide internet video services should insist on serving the people, serve socialism … and abide by the moral code of socialism," the rules say.
The permits are subject to renewal every three years and operators who commit "major" violations may be banned from providing online video programming for five years.
The status of sites such as YouTube, a popular video-sharing site, remains in question.
San Bruno, Calif.-based YouTube is available in China and runs a Chinese-language website, but it wasn't immediately clear if any of its computer servers are located in China.
YouTube LLC, a subsidiary of Google Inc., didn't immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.
Tudou.com, which claims to be China's largest video sharing website, also didn't immediately respond to an e-mail requesting comment.
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