(Yicai Global) Sept. 26 -- The Beijing and Guangdong branches of the Internet Information Office severely disciplined Weibo Corp. [NASDAQ:WB], Baidu Inc. [NASDAQ:BIDU] and Tencent Holdings Ltd. [HK:0700], three internet information giants, for failing to properly manage netizens' inappropriate comments.

The Internet Information Office is an organization for Chinese government to supervise online information dissemination.

Weibo received a punishment for its failure to manage "pornographic information, information on ethnic hatred and relevant comments" that its users posted, the Beijing Internet Information Office said yesterday. Authorities penalized Baidu Tieba, Baidu's web community service, for not fulfilling its obligation to monitor "pornographic information, violent terrorism information and relevant comments" from its users.

Tencent faced penalties for the violent, false and pornographic info its users released on WeChat, the Guangdong Internet Information Office said yesterday.

Authorities gave Weibo and Tencent the maximum fine and Baidu Tieba a hefty penalty.

These three internet firms must take responsibility for platform management, standardize information service platforms and resolutely punish user accounts releasing illegal and malicious information in accordance with the law, the Internet Information Offices in Beijing and Guangdong said.