China launches its own Wikipedia

Potential contributors to Baidupedia are warned not to attack the Chinese government

Baidu.com, China's main internet search website, has launched its own version of Wikipedia called Baidupedia. 

However, unlike the original Wikipedia, the site does not allow users to update information as and when they please.

The Chinese version includes a moderator function, so that any content which might offend the Chinese government can be removed before it appears online.

Baidupedia also includes a FAQ section that dissuades writers from attacking the current government, along with its institutions and systems, or putting forward a "negative view of life".

In setting up the new service, Baidu claimed that it was unaware that the Wikipedia online encyclopaedia has been blocked by the Chinese government since 2005.