Complaining gets easier as more websites put phone numbers on home page

Another 122 Chinese websites have agreed to add their phone numbers to their home pages, making it easier for the public to report illegal information and activities, such as fraud, that they find online.

It was the second batch of websites to agree to disclose a 24-hour call line or an e-mail address on the home page, China’s top Internet watchdog said on Thursday. All websites must eventually comply.

The websites, which include major commercial giants and video providers, also are asked to resolve any legitimate issues in a timely manner, including removal of information verified as illegal in accordance with Chinese laws and rules issued by government departments. The sites are required to provide feedback to those who have reported problems, and to protect their privacy, the Cyberspace Administration of China said.

Currently, 228 websites have agreed to include their contact information, in an effort aimed at protecting netizens’ interests and keeping the online environment safe, it said.

The authority said the 106 websites that previously joined the effort received more than 40 million reports over the past year, and those motivated netizens have helped the administration govern the Internet.

Callers providing valuable tips will be given rewards, it said, adding that it has paid out 8.54 million yuan ($1.33 million) since January.

In addition, the authority said international cooperation against terrorism-related content or videos online also had borne fruit and would continue to be pushed.