Medical NGOs file complaint against Baidu

As many as 36 non-government healthcare organizations have requested an investigation by the Beijing authorities into what they claim are inappropriate marketing practices by Baidu Inc.

The NGOs filed the collective complaint against the Nasdaq-listed online search giant on Thursday with the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce.

They accused Baidu of violating the Advertisement Law by allowing misleading medical advertisements to be placed, and asked the authorities to launch an investigation.