China criminalizes paid deletion of Internet content   

Beijing (ECNS) – Providing paid services to delete Internet posts or repost information is illegal, according to a regulation issued by the Supreme People's Court on Thursday.

Such services charge fees to help delete, block or cut access to certain Internet content in order to remove unfavorable information. Some individuals, organizations and companies hire these services to post or repost information to gain popularity, distort facts or market products, reporters found.

Under the new regulation, editing, deleting or blocking information without consent will be regarded as an infringement. And those who hire, organize or solicit others to help post or repost information will bear joint liability.

China has intensified its crackdown on Internet crime, such as the spreading of rumors, pornography and online fraud.