Media and television regulators in China have officially released a letter for video streaming websites to delete offensive content in films and television shows. These include pornographic content as well as content that show sexual abuse, adultery and multi-partner relationships.
According to the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, content providers should remove all programs along with headlines, images and videos in websites that exhibit such content.
Other themes that should be monitored and taken down include murder, rape, drug abuse, various forms of gambling, kidnapping, prostitution as well as supernatural creatures and occurrences.
Currently, China does not offer access to American streaming sites, including Amazon Prime and Netflix. On the other hand, local site Sohu has already raked in an increasingly large number of Chinese viewers for showing U.S. political thriller "House of Cards." Although such form of drama has not become widely popular, it is greatly welcomed by Chinese citizens who have taken interest in American culture.
Such ban has been deemed as a significant part of the government's advocacy called the "Cleaning the Web 2014" to stop pornography and other forms of offensive content.
According to the State Internet Information Office, over 100 websites were taken down as requested by the Chinese government last April.
This October, authorities also requested for content providers including television stations, theaters and entertainment websites to prohibit the showing of works by celebrities, directors and other influential individuals who have been previously involved in crimes, such as drug use and hiring of prostitutes.
Such move, however, has been criticized for having a potentially considerable impact on Hollywood films that require a big budget to be produced. Last year, for instance, Chinese authorities prohibited the airing of a scene in the zombie apocalypse film "World War Z" starring Brad Pitt.
On the whole, the Chinese government has emphasized that such laws are directed towards "cleaning out" on-screen content and online media in order to support fundamental socialist values and principles.
