Beijing - The Chinese government has launched a campaign to "clean up a vulgar current on the Internet" that targets 19 companies, including search leaders Baidu (NASD: BIDU) and Google (NASD: GOOG), Reuters reported, citing a report on the official news site China.com.cn.

The campaign was hatched on Monday by China's Ministry of Public Security and six other government agencies, and ostensibly is meant to target vulgarity and pornography.

"Some websites have exploited loopholes in laws and regulations," Cai Mingzhao, a deputy chief of the State Council Information Office, told Reuters.

"They have used all kinds of ways to distribute content that is low-class, crude and even vulgar, gravely damaging mores on the Internet."

Some observers noted for Reuters that the Internet crackdown comes at the start of a year that will see several sensitive anniversaries in China, including the twentieth anniversary of the bloody Tiananmen Square protests.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/9i4wi (Reuters)