China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Centre (CIIRC) for the first time issued a black list of websites with harmful information on Monday, China News Service reports.

Based on public reports and complaints, CIIRC conducted investigations and spot-checks of websites to gauge whether they abided by laws and regulations. However, illegal and harmful information was found on some websites including qingdaonews.com, pic.tom.com and pic.szonline.net. The portals have been asked to shut down operations soon.

Websites that refuse to take down or replace harmful information will be blacklisted by the CIIRC.

To usher in the Beijing Olympics and offer visitors first-class internet services, the CIIRC are welcoming public reports and complaints about illegal and harmful information on the internet. They aim to promote self-regulation in the internet news and information service industries.

A name list of blacklisted websites:

http://club.qingdaonews.com/

http://bbs.cjn.cn/main.html

http://et.21cn.com/

http://bbs.scol.com.cn/ & http://ent.scol.com.cn/

http://pic.szonline.net/

http://pic.tom.com/

(CRI July 22,2008)