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CHINA CLAMPS NEW CONTROLS ON INTERNET

Web posted at: 3:13 a.m. EST (0813 GMT)

BEIJING (Reuters) -- China clamped sweeping new controls on the Internet on Tuesday, warning that the network was being used to leak state secrets and to spread "harmful information."

Regulations unveiled by Zhu Entao, Assistant Minister for Public Security, cover a wide range of crimes, including leaking state secrets, political subversion and spreading pornography and violence.

The rules are also designed to protect against computer hacking, viruses and other computer-related crime.

They call for unspecified "criminal punishments" and fines of up to 15,000 yuan ($1,800) for Internet providers and users who violate the rules -- both individuals and business organisations.

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The regulations explicitly cover information circulating from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

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