War against porn should be just and legal

• Source: Global Times
• [02:28 January 15 2010]
• Comments

The Constitution guarantees protection of the freedom and privacy of communication between citizens. Today, as a means of communication, SMS and e-mail are akin to private letters. If short messages are put under batch processing, or intercepted and even purposely tapped for scrutiny, people will be on tenterhooks all the time.

Merely saying that this measure is to strike at pornography does not justify such invasion of privacy. The action should have a legal basis, too.

Doubtless, the flood of cellphone porn is corrupting youth. But, to eradicate this evil calls for a crackdown on the upper reaches of the interest chain. In other words, shutting down the porn websites is the only solution.

At present, in China, there is no explicit legal sanction relating to cellphone short message management. We desperately need a legal norm, for protecting – and not facilitating invasion of – people's privacy.