'Sexting' banned in China

The government and China Mobile have set up a policy to prohibit lewd messages being sent via mobile phones.

Last week, ChinaGeeks published its post “While You Were Reading About Google,” which highlighted a short article on China Daily on the new strategy between the government and China Mobile, China's largest telecommunication's network, to monitor customers’ SMS conversations for “lewd content.”

“Sending just one unlawful text message will result in suspension of the texting service," reports China Daily. "To get it back, the person would have to submit a written promise to the public security authority not to send unlawful messages again.” That’s one trip to our local public security office we’d rather avoid. So what exactly will comprise lewd content under this initiative? Although clearly part of China’s larger anti-porn campaign, this new policy’s wording is so broad that rather than just cracking down on porn it will limit regular adult SMS conversations.

ChinaGeeks found the original article on Sohu and points out that, “SMS will be monitored using computers, so PSB [Public Security Bureau] officers probably aren’t reading your texts unless some word you use sets off a red flag in the system.” If there was ever a time to get creative with your wording, it's now. The other catch to this new regulation? Your flirty (now considered dirty) SMS message can be reported by another user, so the next time you end a romantic fling, make sure you clear the person’s phone of any report-worthy material, or the phone nannies could be tipped off.

(from CNNgo.com)