Internet police turn to social media for information on cybercrimes

Police will strengthen their efforts to crack down on cybercrime - including fraud, gambling, online drug or gun-related crimes and pornography - by creating their own social media accounts, the Ministry of Public Security announced on Monday.

The ministry said police in 50 key areas nationwide, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, will open accounts on sites such as the micro-blog site Sina Weibo, the messaging site WeChat and the online community Baidu Post Bar.

Public security departments will use special police personnel to regularly monitor the Internet to detect online crimes and remove illegal and harmful materials.