The state controlled national television China Central Television (CCTV) launched an attack on social media platform, such as Sina Weiblog [a micro-blogging platform similar to Twitter] earlier in August 2011 accusing the tool for spreading rumors and frauds online. Chinese netizens quickly reacted against the propaganda machine, questioned the political intention of the TV program and defended the social media platforms.
Recently the Television has shifted its target of attack from social media to the biggest search engine in China, Baidu, accusing its market oriented operation mechanism, which results in the spreading of commercial advertisements which are sometimes frauds.
The CEO of KDnet, Xiao Zengjian believed that the public opinion campaign is to prepare for the launching of a new search engine, Tuiso (推索), which is jointly run by CCTV and People Net. On the other hand, new media researcher, Beifeng pointed out that the State media may want to continue the previous campaign against rumor by attacking an Internet company with less public support when compared to other micro-blogging platforms. However, eventually the objective is to impose a set of rule for regulating the Internet, in particular the social media. (via Deutsche Welle's report)