Chinese police have detained a 21-year-old man for involvement of spreading pornographic and "lewd" material through the Internet.

The man, surnamed Chen, allegedly created the website titled "luanlunshunu" (incestuous mature woman) in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, in August last year, said the office for cracking down on online porn and lewd content.

When he was seized in early January, police found erotic pictures, pornographic movies and articles on the website, said an office official.

Chen, a native of Anxi County of Quanzhou City in southeast Fujian Province, is alleged to have confessed to the crimes and is in custody.

Under China's Criminal Law, the distribution of pornographic and obscene publications, videos, and articles for non-profit use can carry a jail term of up to two years.

"Lewd" content includes violence, libel, private and other information that violates standards of public decency.

The office operates under seven government departments, including the State Council's Information Office and the ministries of public security and culture, which jointly launched a nationwide campaign to eradicate obscene contents in January.

As of Tuesday, officials had blocked 1,575 pornographic sites and detained 41 people.

On January 15, police in Xiamen City of Fujian Province arrested 16 people suspected of offering online pornographic chat services and performances.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2009)