China has shut down 34,000  online accounts and even punished 6,300 people for allegedly spreading rumours as part of a crackdown launched in April, media reports said.

Over 4,800 relevant cases have been handled, with more than 6,300 people punished, said Li Tong, an official with China's Ministry of Public Security, at a press conference on Friday as quoted by Xinhua.

In a bid to ensure sustained social stability, the ministry has decided to carry out a yearlong crackdown campaign on online rumours spanning 2024, the news agency reported.

The campaign will employ multiple measures to make sure it is effective and delivers solid outcomes, according to Li.

The country's news agency quoting Li said in 2023 Chinese police have also taken strong hands against criminal acts of cyber violence such as online smearing, insulting and privacy infringement, handling 110 cases so far.