China to review 'zombie' websites

[webfact]

China to review 'zombie' websites
Chen Mengwei
China Daily

BEIJING: -- Central authorities moved on Tuesday to address four major concerns of the public about official government websites: that a website is not responsive, or that information is not delivered in a timely manner, or is inaccurate or not useful.

An evaluation guide for official websites, which was attached to a document released by the General Office of the State Council, said "zombie" or "sleeping" government websites that serve no one will be shut down.

A government website will be terminated if it misspells state leaders' names, fails to open, is not updated, publishes fraudulent or sexually explicit content or fails to respond to public inquiries within three months, according to a detailed evaluation guide for official websites.

The central government has begun its first nationwide effort to review and correct authorities' websites at virtually all levels in its latest move to improve administrative efficiency and transparency, according to the document.

For Tang Jun and his fellow social policy researchers at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the need to impose accountability and require up-to-date statistics on government websites is a must. He said he has seldom been satisfied in the past.

"Sometimes I need an annual report from the year before, but in many cases I won't be able to see one online until September. Sometimes I won't get anything at all," Tang said. "I do hope the government will make sure important information is released in a timely manner."

His problem may be solved soon.

All government bodies above county level and all ministries and commissions under the State Council, along with their affiliated institutions, including those to which Tang usually goes for official data, will be covered in the review, which is expected to last until the end of the year.

Full story: http://www.asianewsnet.net/news-73284.html


-- ANN 2015-03-26

[gerry123]

take note Thailand oh dear that would shut down 75% of them

[Kerryd]

Came expecting news of websites run by zombies, left disappointed.

[Rancid]

Came expecting news of websites run by zombies, left disappointed.

Youve never dealt with the bureaucracy?

[jaywalker]

take note Thailand oh dear that would shut down 75% of them

Same with US gov't websites.