BEIJING - Chinese Internet users have been urged to keep within the law and remain ethical during their online activities, delegates at a symposium have urged.

At the symposium held on Wednesday by the State Internet Information Office, delegates made the appeal in a bid to crack down on online rumors, said a statement Thursday.

Teachers, public servants and company employees defended an ongoing campaign, saying the Internet should be a platform for promoting upright and good behavior "instead of a hotbed of rumors," it said.

Participants said personal interest was usually behind online rumors, intended for fame, public attention or to make money. They said behavior that undermines legitimate rights and interests of others should be handled severely.

Delegates also raised suggestions on how to set up a long-term mechanism to guard against rumors being spread online.

Among them, Wang Liping, a teacher at the primary school affiliated to the Peking University, expressed concern over the harm that online exaggerations and provocative false information may do to juveniles.

Yuan Lijun, a teacher at the Beijing No. 27 Middle School, said misconduct from members of the media should be dealt with strictly so as to prevent other employees spreading rumors inadvertently or intentionally.

Liu Xiaohong, a company employee, said China needs to step up in improving Internet-related legislation in order to keep pace with the quick growth of the Internet.

China has the world's biggest online population, with 591 million as of the end of June.