China National Network Information Centre (CNNIC), a non-profit
organisation under China's Ministry of Information, has dropped its
controversial list of the top 10 most influential Internet portals in
mainland China.
The top 10 list had included a comprehensive Internet development
report, which had been used by the industry as an indicator of the
development of Internet-related businesses in mainland China.
However, the list had come under attack for being used as a promotional
tool by dotcoms looking to attract investors.
Dotcoms in mainland China were criticised for launching promotional
campaigns to generate support for their sites.
It was not clear whether the list had been permanently dropped by CNNIC
or would only be eliminated from its seventh Internet survey to be made
available at the end of this year.
