BEIJING, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The Chinese government closed 1,600 Internet cafes between February and August, Internetnews.com reported Monday.
Of the 1.8 million such cafes in China, 18,000 more have been ordered to close temporarily until they stop certain practices. To better control Internet cafes, the government wants to put them under the management of a few large chain stores.
The government also slapped cybercafes with more than $12 million in fines for various violations, including giving children access to violent games and pornography.
In March, the government forbade local governments across the country from allowing any Internet cafes within residential areas or within 220 yards of primary schools and secondary schools.
The government also wants to block access to Internet sites featuring gambling, pornography, violence and anti-government sentiment, one Internet expert said.
