China arrests more than 10,000 for internet ‘crimes’

China has arrested over 10,000 people and identified 600 "criminal gangs" for cyber crimes as part of a major government sweep that began in June, BBC News reported. 

The country's ministry of public security announced that 3.2 million "harmful" online messages were disposed of, reported China's Xinhua, news the communist authorities portrayed as a crime-fighting initiative but which some say is really intended to discourage dissent online.

The arrests targeted those believed involved with illegal online businesses, particularly weapons sales, counterfeiting agencies and organizations buying and selling people's personal data, said Xinhua. 

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The news comes a week after China unveiled a new policy framework for its information development, according to the Council of Foreign Relations, one that may see policymakers pushing for a closer examination of online activity in order to prevent the possibility of being hit with cyber espionage attacks similar to those seen in Iran.

China's local governments, meanwhile, have also been busy shoring up the Great Firewall.

Beijing police recently arrested 5,007 people on internet-related charges and shut down 263 internet cafes in order to "protect the physical and mental health of young people," said BBC.

Authorities there also warned against any online "political rumor" or "attack" on Communist Party leaders, reported USA Today, possibly auguring even closer monitoring by the government.

China's 538 million Internet users are already subject to heavy filtering by the authorities and are unable to access sites like Google, Facebook, and YouTube, according to Freedom House's "Freedom on the Net" 2011 report on China.