Today on the net: China tightens its grip on social networkers. Ben Affleck is cast as Batman, and Bat-fans are not happy. And Céline Dion makes her Twitter debut.<br />China tightens its grip on web users <br />The news has been let with widespread commentary on social media platforms in China. The Beijing Police Department posted a message online on Sunday saying businessman, and one of the country’s most prominent bloggers Charles Xue, had been arrested on suspicion of soliciting prostitution.<br />With over 12 million followers on China’s Twitter equivalent Sina Weibo, the billionaire, who lives in China but is a naturalized American citizen, is known for speaking his mind on social issues, including child trafficking. Many web users are wondering if the 60-year-old has been set up by the government in a bid to stifle his online commentary.<br />The Chinese authorities are indeed in the midst of stepping up their control over the Internet and in particular curbing online rumours, a crackdown that has seen the arrests of several bloggers and journalists in recent days.<br />Reporter Liu Hu was detained last Friday, after calling for an investigation into the former vice-mayor of Chongqing, the city ran by Bo Xilai, the ex-Communist Party chief whose much publicized trial has just ended.<br />Blogger Zhou Lubao was arrested for what the authorities described as "spreading online rumours". The cyber activist helped expose a Chinese official for corruption last year by posting photos of his array of luxury watches online; a scandal that led to an official enquiry.<br />Internet loses it over Ben Affleck as Batman<br />It’s official. Warner Bros has chosen American actor and director Be... Go on reading on our web site.<br />http://www.france24.com/en/taxonomy/emission/18008<br /><br />Visit our website:<br />http://www.france24.com<br /><br />Like us on Facebook:<br />https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English<br /><br />Follow us on Twitter:<br />https://twitter.com/France24_en
