China to increase internet access for population, with restrictions

Beijing, China: A recent whitepaper published by the Chinese Government titled China's Internet Situation has outlined plans to take 45% of the country online within the next five years.

Currently 30% of the country has internet access, although certain websites are restricted by government censorship, often dubbed the "Great Firewall". Although praising the internet as a tool for sharing information, the paper refers to the government's role in censoring web content as the need to protect the population from "illegal information dissemination".

Porn and politically sensitive material prohibited - and the Dalai Lama too

China has the largest population of web users. Domestic content providers such a web portals, search engines and blog sites are required by law to monitor and remove content the government deems undesirable. Generally this refers to pornography, but can also include politically sensitive topics, such as discussions of independence for Taiwan and Tibet and any banned religious groups.

China also regularly blocks access to some foreign internet sites, including news sites and social-networking sites. Google withdrew from China in January this year, following allegations of email account hacking and surveillance carried out by the Chinese government.