Purify This

Posted January 24, 2007

Reuters is reporting that

Chinese Communist Party chief Hu Jintao has vowed to "purify" the Internet …describing a top-level meeting that discussed ways to master the country’s sprawling, unruly online population. Hu made the comments as the ruling party’s Politburo — its 24-member leading council — was studying China’s Internet, which claimed 137 million registered users at the end of 2006.

OK, so 10% of China is now online. And the Communist Party is going to do what to keep them all in line?

…he made it clear that the Communist Party was looking to ensure it keeps control of China’s Internet users, often more interested in salacious pictures, bloodthirsty games and political scandal than Marxist lessons.

The party had to "strengthen administration and development of our country’s Internet culture", Hu told the meeting on Tuesday, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

"Maintain the initiative in opinion on the Internet and raise the level of guidance online," he said. "We must promote civilized running and use of the Internet and purify the Internet environment."

Why are all dictators delusional?