Pornography in China

The first pornographic websites appeared in China before sites like YouPorn and Pornhub became popular in the West. A few major (though ill-fated) websites appeared in China during 2004, including "99 Erotica Forum" and "Erotica Juneday". Some of these websites are still in existence, but many have disappeared. The business model for these websites requires visitors to navigate through pay-per-click advertisements for sex toys, Viagra-esque pills, and online casinos before they can watch or download pornographic content. The websites typically offer a mix of domestic amateur pornography videos and pirated content from Japan, Europe and the US. They typically set up their servers overseas and frequently change their URLs to avoid being detected by the authorities.

For some users, the quantity of advertisements on these websites can be uncomfortable and frustrating. Sometimes there is no pornographic content available after the advertisements have been navigated. The chance of picking up malware in the process is high. Hence some services in China charge a membership fee in return for greater reliability and fewer or no advertisements. However, in China the use of domestic bank accounts makes such websites vulnerable to the authorities. "99 Erotica" was among the first to be closed after having acquired more than 300,000 registered users within a year of its launch. In 2005 authorities sentenced its eleven workers, among them teachers and civil servants, to imprisonment ranging from three to twelve years for disseminating obscene material. In October 2006 authorities closed down "Erotica Juneday", which charged its highest-paying members 3,999 yuan (then around $490) a year, and sentenced founder Chen Hui to life imprisonment.[6] Among those who complained about the harshness of the sentence was the sociologist Li Yinhe. She called on authorities to either repeal the pornography laws in China or stop pretending the nation enjoys freedom of expression.

Since 2008, the production of pornographic films has been banned. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's prohibition on pornography has been complete, and the government has shown no signs of reversing its decision. Directors, producers, and actors involved in pornographic films have been barred from competing in any film competitions. Any film studio found in violation may have its license revoked.[7] As a result of this action, adult films and media can only be obtained through the Internet or on the black market. Possession of pornography is punishable by up to 3 years in prison, a fine of CN¥ 20,000, or up to life imprisonment for large underground distributors.[8] In 2010 China shut down 60,000 pornographic websites and arrested almost 5,000 suspects.[9]