China defends Internet censorship

China defends Internet censorship - Technology - International Herald Tribune: "The Chinese authorities are determined to stop "harmful information" from spreading through the Internet, but the controls they place on Web sites and Internet service providers in mainland China do not differ much from those employed by the United States and European countries, a senior Chinese official responsible for managing the Internet said Tuesday.

He cited, for example, statements on Web sites run by The New York Times and The Washington Post that reserve the right to delete or block content in reader discussion groups that editors determine to be illegal, harmful or in bad taste. Chinese media Web sites are also monitored in that way, he said."