Chinese firms have agreed to increase their censorship of internet content as authorities seeks greater control over the medium.
The heads of 39 companies including Baidu and Alibaba agreed to “curb rumours” and the spreading of “harmful information”, official media reported.
Chinese authorities has often been accused of censoring online material to maintain control over its population.
China is the world’s biggest internet market.
The move comes just weeks after Communist Party leaders agreed a list of “cultural development guidelines” which included increased controls over social media and penalties for those spreading “harmful information”.
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China has more than 500 million internet users and authorities have been concerned about the spread of information they deem unsuitable.
Last month a university student was detained after being accused of posting a fake news story about a man killing eight village chiefs in the south-western province of Yunnan.
A Shanghai resident was held in police custody for 15 days after accusations he had posted a falsified income tax document online. (BBC)