China says crackdown on online rumour mongers 'successful'

A top Chinese official has reportedly said that the country's crackdown on online rumour spreaders has been highly 'successful' in cleaning the internet.

The country's strict online censorship system, known as the Great Firewall, has been criticized by many for crushing free speech and internet freedom.

China's vice minister of the State Internet Information Office, Ren Xianliang emphasized the country's commitment to scrubbing the web of content it deemed critical or offensive adding that the campaign against rumours has received positive response and has been effective, stuff.co.nz reports.

China's censorship system already blocks many social media websites, such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube along with many sites hosted in Taiwan and those of rights groups and some foreign media agencies.

Ren said that the internet has now become clean in the nation, with a decline in the frequency of slander without impacting the orderly flow of information.

He added that the authorities will meet the demands of the people to create a cyberspace with Chinese characteristics.

The highly controversial campaign against online rumour mongers has seen many arrests and punishments including jail term and hefty fine.