CHINA'S censors are targeting online spoofs of films, celebrities and heroes, a Chinese newspaper reported yesterday, in the government's latest campaign to regulate Internet content.

The State Administration for Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) is drafting rules to block Internet broadcasts of short films that mock established culture, the Beijing News reported.

Targets of China's online pranksters have included Lei Feng, a soldier renowned for his good deeds in the 1960s, as well as the heavily hyped blockbuster, "The Promise," directed by Oscar-nominated Chen Kaige.

China's broadcast authority will allow commercial Web companies such as Sina and Tom to expand into broadband Webcasts, but will also "punish rule violations across the entire sector."

"SARFT has established a quite advanced Internet audio-visual monitoring center and plans to set up monitoring centers in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong," Lui Jianhui, a censorship official at the SARFT said.

The new law will bolster a regulation issued in 2004 requiring censors' approval for the distribution of all audio-visual material on the Internet, mobile phones, television and other media, the report said.

Despite existing regulations, a rash of unapproved video spoofs parodying popular culture and targeting iconic Chinese figures have emerged online in recent months, often created by hobbyists with some becoming hugely popular.

In February, "Murder Over a Steamed Bun," a 20-minute film making fun of costume drama "The Promise," gave young Internet prankster, Hu Ge, widespread fame and a threat of legal action from director Chen Kaige.

In July, the short film "China Wins the World Cup!" parodied Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan, China's underperforming national soccer team and TV announcer Huang Jianxiang's overzealous rant during Italy's victory over Australia in a World Cup knock-out match.

Editor: Wing