Seven search engine service providers from China have jointly signed a self-discipline compact in Beijing.

The seven search engine providers are Sina, Sohu, Netease, Baidu, Zhongsou, China Yahoo and Qihoo.

The parties have agreed not to spread, publish or provide links to websites or webpages that contain vulgar or pornographic content, and they pledge not to provide related network service for websites or webpages offering illegal information. The companies also plan to take effective measures to prevent the transmission of illegal and unhealthy information via technical means.

China's CCTV has recently aired several reports on websites and mobile phones spreading pornographic information. On December 8, nine Chinese departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Ministry of Public Security jointly held a telephone and video conference on which they arranged work for a nationwide campaign against vulgar content spread via the Internet and mobile phones. They said the campaign would last from December 2009 to May 2010.