China’s booming World Wide Web population has surpassed the United States to become the world’s biggest, with 253 million humans online despite government controls on Web use, according to government info reported Friday.

The latest figure on Web use at the end of June is a 56 percent increase from a year ago, the China World Wide Web Network data Center said. It said the share of the Chinese public using the Web is still just 19.1 percent, leaving more room

The United States had an estimated 223.1 million Web users in June, according to Nielsen Online, a research firm. The Pew World Wide Web and American Life Project puts U.S. online penetration at 71 percent.

“This is the first duration the number has drastically surpassed the United States, becoming the world’s No. 1,” a CNNIC statement said.

The communist government encourages Net use for business and education but […]

Orginal post by Top Tech News