China's Internet firms vow to tighten regulation of Web

China's top IT firms have pledged to step up the regulation of their services as government authorities have intensified calls to control the development of the nation's Internet.

Representatives from 39 companies made the pledge during a government sponsored meeting last week, stating that "Internet companies must strengthen their self-management, self-restraint, and strict self-discipline," according to a report from state-run press agency Xinhua. Attendees included the CEO of China's largest search engine Baidu, the heads of Chinese firms operating social networking sites, and executives from the country's three mobile carriers. The public declaration comes as the nation's authorities have tightened control of China's online social media sites, going as far to detain Internet users who have allegedly fabricated rumors. Authorities have said they want to promote the "healthy development" of the Internet in fighting such rumors. But experts have said Chinese officials are in fact worried that the nation's Twitter-like social networking sites are becoming platforms to criticize the government. Chinese companies are already required to abide by the country's strict censorship laws, which block content and websites deemed politically sensitive or anti-government. Foreign sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are currently blocked. During last week's meeting, China's top IT firms also agreed to crackdown on Internet rumors, online pornography and scams. The head of China's IT authority, the State Internet Information Office, said the companies must also take the lead in enhancing the credibility of online media companies while also strengthening their management.