BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 news websites in China publicized a self-discipline regulation on Friday, pledging to purify the Internet environment.

    The websites vowed to standardize the news collection, editing and releasing process, and eliminate false news and illegal information.

    They also promise to exclude pornographic and violent content from their websites. Supervision will be strengthened to guarantee that website content is legal and clean.

    They pledge not to publish information that would undermine citizens' reputations or infringe their right to privacy.

    China had 144 million netizens at the end of March this year, and the figure is growing by eight percent per year.

    China launched a six-month campaign to restrict the spread of online pornography in April. The campaign by the Ministry of Public Security and nine other government departments will crack down on illegal online activities such as distributing pornographic materials and organizing cyber strip shows, and purge the web of sexually-explicit images, stories, and audio and video clips.

    The campaign also targets illegal online lotteries and contraband trade, fraud, and "content that spreads rumors and is of a slanderous nature".