Chinese net companies apologise for lewd content

BEIJING (Reuters) - Three Chinese Internet operators have apologised for failing to purge "vulgar" content following a government pledge this week to expose and shut down offending websites.

China on Monday launched a renewed crackdown to stamp out vulgar current on the Internet, which analysts linked to a broader campaign to stifle dissent and protest as the economy slows in a year of politically sensitive anniversaries.

Officials named and shamed 19 Internet operators and websites, including search engines Google and Baidu, it said had flouted warnings about pornography and other content deemed inappropriate by state censors.

"We feel deeply guilty," Baidu, China's number one search engine, said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday.

"We apologise to Internet users for any negative effects given to society."

NetEase.com.Inc, China's number two online game operator, and SINA Corp also issued public apologies on their websites.

"As to our problems and any harm they could possibly have caused Internet users, SINA feels deeply sad and concerned," the online media group said.

Google's China office stopped short of offering an apology on its website, but promised to "work hard" with Internet users and society to build a healthy Internet culture.

"After we received notice from relevant government departments ... (we) cleaned up links to vulgar content that could have adverse effects on Internet users," it said (here).