A Chinese official from the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced on Tuesday plans to establish an Internet police force that will be responsible for cracking down on netizens engaging in criminal activities.

The MPS Vice Minister Chen Zhimin outlined the duties of the Internet police during a press interview. They will closely monitor the activities in certain online sites to make sure that no unlawful activities are happening.

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Such online criminal enterprise includes the posting of inappropriate online remarks, fraudulent transactions as well as online attacks. Websites that allow users to gamble, watch lewd materials, or deal in drugs will also face sanction from the authorities.

Chen advised site owners and social media users to think twice before hosting or posting information online that could be construed as inappropriate or unlawful by government regulators.

Internet police personnel will also be posted in major Chinese Internet companies to make sure that they can catch their suspects and stop their activities as quickly as possible.

Online service companies such as Tencent and Sina have been criticized several times by the Chinese government for their failure to shut down users that offers lewd images, fraudulent transactions and inappropriate or anti-government activities.

In July, a copy of a new set of Internet security rules was released by Chinese authorities. The new rules offer local netizens greater legal protection against online attacks and firms that seek to sell their personal data.

However, the new guideline also gives government regulators greater powers to compel internet and social media companies to shut down sites or removed contents that are considered as unlawful.

The MPS said that such powers will help safeguard the stability of the country's security as well as the social and economic structure of Chinese society.

TagsChina internet police, online police, china internet cleanup campaign, Ministry of Public Security, chen zhimin, mps vice minister, Sina, china internet security