Those who have sent more than 200 nude pictures via email, chat rooms and BBS
will be investigated under criminal law, the police said.
The Beijing Internet News Information Review Council, initiated by the
government-sponsored Beijing Association of Online Media, issued a statement on
Monday rapped Baidu.com, the biggest Chinese search engine, for "behaving
badly."
The association "severely criticizes Baidu's behavior" and demanded the company
make a public apology for spreading the nude pictures.
In Hong Kong, up to 10 people were detained for spreading the photos.
And in the southern city of Shenzhen, police have apprehended 10 suspects for
allegedly producing, selling and purchasing discs of the photos.
Three suspects were given five-day administrative detention, and two others
were under criminal detention and still being quizzed by police.
Thirteen online portals on the mainland have issued a joint statement asking
domestic Websites to boycott the nude photos. It urged Netizens and Website
staff to be self-disciplined and halt the spread of the photos.
So far, more than 40 domestic Websites have rallied to support the joint
statement.
Chen out of a job
Meanwhile, actor Edison Chen said he will fulfill existing commitments and then
leave the Hong Kong entertainment industry indefinitely due to the nude
photo scandal.
Pictures showing the 27-year-old, Canadian-born Chinese actor and singer posing
in bed with numerous female celebrities - including singer Gillian Chung and
actress Cecilia Cheung, Joey Yung and Bobo Chan -- recently hit the
Internet, the Shanghai Daily reported Thursday.
"I'm sorry to those ladies and their families and most of all, I feel sorry for
Hong Kong people," Chen said at a press conference. "These photos were very
private and have not been shown to people and were never intended to be shown
to anyone."
The Shanghai Daily said Chen explained he would honor some existing
commitments, and then leave the entertainment industry "indefinitely."
He said he decided to do this "to give myself an opportunity to heal myself and
to search my soul.
"I have failed as a role model. However I wish that this matter will teach
everyone a lesson. I hope the scandal can be over as soon as possible and
prevent more young people from further injuries," Chen said.
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