China's Baidu faces punishment over porn, fake advertisements

China's top search engine Baidu is facing punishment for hosting forums containing pornography, libellous posts and advertisements for unlicensed hospitals.

The State Internet Information Office summoned Baidu executives for a grilling yesterday and ordered them to immediately remove the content. It also ordered Internet regulators in Beijing, where Baidu is headquartered, to punish the company.

The State Internet Information Office has been flooded with public complaints about Baidu, it said in a statement. The complaints also claimed Baidu had leaked users' personal information state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

"In addition, some search results on Baidu are not impartial or objective, and its news channel has spread harmful information involving violence and terror," according to the statement.