While tackling the scourge of online terror-related videos and files, China should still further develop the Internet and provide a space for the public to speak, a senior anti-terror expert said.

"It is essential that we tackle online products that instigate religious extremism and breed mistrust, but that doesn't mean information relating to ethnicity and religions should be shielded," said Li Wei, a leading anti-terror specialist in China.

The development of the Internet is important, "and it is not in conflict with our anti-terrorism work," he said.

Terrorists are making use of the Internet to spread their "ideology", he said, adding that what he was most worried about was the threat of terror attacks carried out online.

He strongly called for a specific anti-terror law, common in Western countries, to be issued as soon as possible in China.

"All specific requirements, such as how to improve methods to defeat terrorism and what information should be deleted, should also be written into the law," he said. "At the same time, the law must cover how to operate and supervise the Internet."

Only when the detailed specifics of this law come into effect will the nation's online space be clean and the terror crimes eradicated, according to Li.

"In addition, it is also urgent to reach an agreement on Internet supervision with other countries. If they know that those who put out terrorism-related video products can be punished and targeted in accordance with Chinese law, then that will help," he added.

- Cao Yin

(China Daily USA 07/08/2014 page7)