Public security authorities in Shanghai will continue to support a controversial website that posts personal information of Internet users who have disturbed public order by spreading online rumors or publishing false information. The decision comes despite criticism that doing so constitutes an invasion of privacy.

The website shcois.net posts detailed information of such web users, including their online user names, real surnames, IP addresses, real addresses and a description of their violations.

The website shcois.net posts detailed information of such web users, including their online user names, real surnames, IP addresses, real addresses and a description of their violations.

"We punish those who are found to have violated the Criminal Law or the Law on Public Security Administration Punishments," Zhuang Liqiang, press officer of the municipal public security bureau, told the Global Times.

The bureau has been assisting the website, which is run by the Shanghai Information Network Security Association, by detecting or tracking the violators.

The website began exposing netizens early this year, putting up information on some 80 people so far.

However, it only recently began to draw public attention when it targeted a netizen called Jolin Shadow, who earlier published on Sina Blog a price list of Shanghai college girls wanting to be mistresses.

The police said most of the people in question received warnings while some got fined, but no one was detained or jailed.