BEIJING — China shut down 18,489 illegal websites in 2020, and issued warning notices to 4,551, according to the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).

Some of the websites were shut down for promoting online games or dating information in the guise of online courses, while others were punished for spreading illegal material including pornographic and violent content.

Cyberspace administration departments in 2020 also launched a series of campaigns to purge cyberspace of platforms promoting illegal activities, exerting a negative influence on society and containing information harmful to juveniles.

The CAC continues to direct provincial-level cyberspace administration departments in dealing with illegal websites and online platforms and intensifying law enforcement in this regard.