Sending pornographic video, photos or messages via mobile phone can land the
user in detention for two weeks or result in a fine of up to $400, the official
Xinhua News Agency said. Merchants who sell such content can face up to three
years in jail, it said.
Police made the announcement after arresting 19 cell phone dealers who were
selling memory chips with pornographic recordings, the report said. It gave no
details of the content but said each chip could hold a 60-minute film.
China has the world's largest population of mobile phone users, with 461
million phones, and the country has a thriving market for games and other added
services.
China bans sexually explicit material and has sentenced vendors to prison terms
of up to 15 years. Still, erotic videos and photos are widely available.
