StJulians_ITGS

"Concocting rumours is itself a social malady, and the spread of rumours across the internet presents a massive social threat," Xinhua said.

China has a vast and complex censorship system, but microblogs have played an increasing role in spreading news, developing public debate and uncovering scandals.

"The rapid advance of this flood [of internet users] has also brought 'mud and sand' - the spread of rumours - and to nurture a healthy internet, we must thoroughly eradicate the soil in which rumours grow,"