China cracks down on illegal mobile news apps

BEIJING - China's State Internet Information Office (SIIO) has punished a number of mobile news applications that lack qualifications as news services and ordered them to correct their behavior within a time limit.

According to a statement issued by the SIIO Monday, mobile news apps such as Zaker, mobee, chouti, my1510 and others provide mobile news services without qualifications issued by Internet regulators and even publish false information.

Some mobile news apps bragged that they carry news deemed inappropriate and columns "not suitable for public places," and the apps publish pornography and obscene information, harming the physical and psychological health of youngsters, according to the statement.

The SIIO urged local authorities to rigorously enforce laws and regulations concerning mobile news apps and close those that refuse to be reined in.