China to go high tech in online crackdown of illegal publications

China will use advanced technologies to crack down on illegal publications and "harmful information" posted online, according to an cooperative agreement signed on Tuesday between the authorities and the country's top sciences academy. According to the agreement signed between the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publication (NOAPIP) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Tuesday, the two sides will make joint efforts in research and development of core Internet technologies in cracking down on illegal and pornographic publications. Those core technologies include related monitoring and administering methods, discovering and recognizing of online publications, and evidence collecting of "illegal promulgation" on the Internet, according to the agreement. Liu Binjie, deputy director of the NOAPIP and general director of the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), the press watchdog, said at the signing ceremony that cases are increasing of promulgating "harmful information" over the Internet or mobile communication technologies. The agreement is another move by Chinese authorities to enhance the management of the Internet after false information about a jet fighter crashing spread across the country through online social networking services. The GAPP and NOAPIP announced Monday that they had launched a two-month-long special campaign to crack down on illegal media organizations and fake reporters, as well as falsified reports.