IT firms close free cloud services

In March, five ministry-level departments said they would launch a nationwide crackdown on the use of cloud storage services to disseminate pornography and illegal publications. [Photo/IC]

Leading Chinese tech companies are shutting down parts of their cloud storage services for individual users, as the government intensifies crackdown on pirated movies and pornographic films being distributed through the new channel.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's cloud service DBank said on Tuesday it would coordinate with the government's anti-piracy push by halting cloud storage services to individual users, making it the sixth major tech company to do so within two months.

Huawei DBank is the second-largest personal cloud service provider in China, with more than 14 million monthly active users, according to Chengdu-based Big Data Research Center.

The company said all user files stored in its DBank cloud will be deleted after June 30th, adding the change will not affect users of its smartphones, who are using a separate cloud service.

Storing files in the cloud is very popular among Chinese netizens as it allows users to view material from any smartphone, computer and tablet that's connected to the internet, and the cloud can also provide backup for files.

Last month, Tencent Holdings Ltd said it would end a file-transferring service on its Weiyun cloud, which has about 4 million monthly active users.

Sina Corp and other internet companies such as Kingsoft Corp Ltd and 115.com also said they would stop offering free personal cloud storage services, adding they are cooperating with governments to create a "clean" cyberspace.

In March, five ministry-level departments said they would launch a nationwide crackdown on the use of cloud storage services to disseminate pornography and illegal publications.

Internet companies involved in such practices will be held accountable, according to the anti-porn authorities.

Wang Liming, a 27-year-old student in Beijing, is a regular user of Sina's cloud service. "Cloud is so convenient. I don't think I can find a better alternative to help me store big files," she said.

It remains unclear whether Baidu Inc will take any measures with its Baidu Cloud service, which is China's largest personal cloud storage provider with more than 38 million monthly active users.

Vincent Fu, an analyst at Gartner Inc, said some internet companies are giving up personal cloud storage services because they can't decide on a good business model.