Baidu Backtracks on Letting Private Firms Run Popular Forums

(Beijing) – The search giant Baidu Inc. has said private companies can no longer use bulletin board forums popular with certain groups, after an uproar started over firms using a platform for hemophiliacs to promote shoddy services.

Baidu said a statement on January 12 that it would no longer cooperate with private companies on promotions that appear on the Baidu Tieba bulletin board forums.