The Chinese government is implementing new Internet rules that directly challenge freedom of speech by imposing regulations on the content of news Web sites.
According to the new rules, news Web sites may only post "healthy and civilized" news.
The decision is part of China's continuing efforts to control the nation's Internet population, estimated at 100 million. The communist government does encourage Internet use for education and business, but it blocks material it deems subversive or pornographic.
Online users who post items critical of the government or who speak out in chat rooms face arrest and charges under state security laws.
