According to the Ministry of Public Security, police have seized 101 people suspected of involvement in internet pornography since it launched its ongoing crackdown in August, with 74 held in criminal custody, Xinhua News Agency reported today.

"This behavior has severely polluted the internet environment, done harm to juvenile's physical and mental health and caused strong public anger," the ministry said.

The State Council's Information Office and Ministry of Information Industry joined it in running a nationwide campaign against pornographic activities in internet-based video chatrooms on September 28.

Ninety five individuals and 7 companies have been fined and warnings given to dozens of others, and whistleblowers have been encouraged to report illegal internet activities at www.cyberpolice.cn or at net.China.cn.

The ministry said the internet has been exploited by illegal chatrooms that recruited for sex movies and that police are intensifying their crackdown to "purify" the internet environment.

(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2005)