11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Authorities disconnected entire Internet data centers, which contained thousands of servers ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23148]

"On February 13, lawyer Pu Zhiqiang, one of four lawyers who initiated an online campaign protesting the censorship of the Xinlang (new wave) blog, had his own blog shut down. In July authorities reportedly blocked access to an overseas Web site shvoong.com, which provided abstracts of academic papers and literature popular with intellectuals and students. In July Shanghai officials reportedly shut down an online literary forum run by poet Lu Yang reportedly due to a posting related to the anniversary of Tiananmen. According to news reports, authorities disconnected entire Internet data centers, which contained thousands of servers, because of blog pages containing sensitive material.
Regulations prohibit a broad range of activities that authorities interpret as subversive or slanderous to the state. Internet service providers (ISPs) were instructed to use only domestic media news postings, to record information useful for tracking users and their viewing habits, to install software capable of copying e-mails, and to end immediately transmission of so-called subversive material. Many ISPs practiced extensive self-censorship to avoid violating broadly worded regulations."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

During the year individuals were detained or imprisoned for their Internet writing ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23149]

"During the year individuals were detained or imprisoned for their Internet writing. In August Internet blogger He Weihua was arrested by Hunan authorities and committed to a mental hospital, allegedly as punishment for antigovernment writings. On August 14, a court in Hangzhou sentenced Internet writer Chen Shuqing to four years in prison for inciting subversion after he criticized the government online. In March a court in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, sentenced Internet writer Zhang Jianhong (also known as Li Hong) to six years in prison. Zhang was arrested in 2006 after writing an article calling for activist Gao Zhisheng's release. Zhang was a founder and editor of the literary and news Web site Aegean Sea (Aiqinhai), which authorities shut down in March 2006. On December 13, police in Guilin, Guangxi Province, arrested Internet writer Wang Dejia (also known as Jing Chu) after Wang posted several articles critical of the government. Other individuals who remained in prison for posting political or dissenting views on the Internet included journalist and Internet essayist Li Changqing, activist Ren Zhiyuan, Internet essayist Yang Tongyan (Yang Tianshui), and Internet author and human rights advocate Guo Qizhen."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Government continued to pressure companies to sign a "Public Pledge on Self Discipline for China's Internet Industry" ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23150]

"On August 21, 14 major ISPs signed a "blog hosting self discipline pledge" sponsored by the Internet Society of China. Under the pledge, companies agreed to encourage bloggers to register under their real names and to erase any "illegal or unhealthy" postings. Companies that signed the pledge included popular Chinese Internet companies like Sina.com and Sohu.com as well as Yahoo China, which is operated by Alibaba.com, and MSN China. During the year the government also continued to pressure companies to sign a "Public Pledge on Self Discipline for China's Internet Industry." Those who signed the pledge agreed not to spread information that "breaks laws or spreads superstition or obscenity." They also promised to refrain from "producing, posting, or disseminating pernicious information that may jeopardize state security and disrupt social stability." According to court documents, in past years Yahoo provided information to security authorities, including access to private e-mail accounts, used in the prosecution of journalist Shi Tao and dissident Wang Xiaoning. The company said it was required to provide the information under national law and customs. Both men remained in prison at year's end.
Internet cafes must install software that allows government officials to monitor customers' Internet usage. Internet users at cafes were often subject to surveillance. Many cafes sporadically enforced regulations requiring patrons to provide identification."

Document(s): Open document

10.10.2007 - Source: Congressional-Executive Commission on China

Measures to control the Internet do not conform to international standards for freedom of expression ("Annual Report 2007") [ID 21298]

see report for further details

"China's measures to control the Internet do not conform to  international standards for freedom of expression. Under the  ICCPR and UDHR, such restrictions may be imposed only if they  are provided by law and are necessary to protect national  security or public order, public health or morals, or the  rights or reputations of others.91 In some cases, China has  imposed restrictions to address issues of public concern, such  as privacy protection, false advertisements, spam, online  pornography, and youth addiction to the Internet.92 But  public officials in China also prohibit citizens from  accessing or posting online content if they find such content  to be politically unacceptable without any formal determination  of necessity based on ICCPR and UDHR standards."

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

Government continues to crack down on the internet and monitor personal communications ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20400]

"The government continues to crack down on the internet and monitor personal communications. China regularly blocks websites it deems politically threatening and detains those responsible for posting objectionable content; cyber-dissident Zan Aizong was arrested in August 2006. Foreign internet companies continue to cooperate with the Chinese government on censorship enforcement. In 2005, the U.S.-based firm Yahoo! provided information leading to the conviction of Hunan journalist Shi Tao, who was accused of leaking state secrets. Following the closure of over a quarter of China’s 573,755 websites in July 2005, after their operators failed to register at the Ministry of Information Industry, 7 more popular websites were shut down in July 2006, including “Century China” and the online chat forum of “Life Week” magazine. The government continues to strengthen regulations aimed at enhancing control over the internet and restricting internet news sites, web logs, and cellular telephone text-messaging, which is also subject to monitoring by the government. International radio and television broadcasts, including Voice of America and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), are still jammed."

Document(s): Open document

14.03.2007 - Source: International Federation for Human Rights

Control of the Internet and the surveillance of bloggers and operators of websites intensified in 2006 ("2006 Annual Report of the Observatory") [ID 19516]

"In China, following the publication, in September 2005, by the State Council Information Bureau and the Ministry of Information (MII) of the “eleven commandments” to be observed for blogs and the Internet in China, the control of the Internet and the surveillance of bloggers and operators of websites intensified in 2006. On January 25, 2006 for instance, Google Inc. launched Google.cn, a Chinese version of its search engine that filters and censors search results relating to terms considered to be politically sensitive by Chinese authorities50. Furthermore, a recrudescence of the censorship of online publications was observed in 2006, as the authorities did their utmost to silence cyber-dissidents by closing down their publications51 and accused prohibited websites of being implicated in criminal activities.
These new efforts to control the media were likely to be a government’s response to popular discontent following the denunciation of several cases of public scandals involving land seizures, corruption and environmental hazards. The Ministry of Public Security, quoted by the official news agency Xinhua, reportedly declared that it had closed down over 320 “illegal websites” and suppressed 15,000 “dangerous” elements on the Internet from September 6 to 8, 2006.While most of them seemed to have been actually implicated in criminal activities such as the online sale of arms, explosives and narcotics, and online gambling and swindling, several were closed down for political reasons. For instance, on July 25, 2006 the Beijing government closed down the Century China website, which served as a public forum for discussions on political, social and cultural issues. The website had been in operation for six years, and was used in particular by lawyers and defenders inside and outside China in order to promote freedom of expression.
Finally, on September 10, 2006, the official press agency Xinhua published the Measures for Administering the Release of News and Information in China by Foreign News Agencies, which immediately came into force53, replacing the 1996 regulations. In particular, these measures give a list of the kinds of information that must not be published, including those that could endanger China’s national security, its reputation and its interests, or those that promote themes that Chinese law prohibits. These measures also empower Xinhua to select which items will be disseminated and to prohibit foreign news agencies from directly soliciting subscribers."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Disappearance ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 18958]

"Tsewangnorbu, a Web master for a Web site run by the Snow Country Tibetans, was not heard from after Gansu Province security authorities shut down the Web site in March 2005, according to NGOs. His whereabouts remained unknown. In October Shi Xiaoyu was reportedly detained in Zhejiang Province after writing about labor disputes online. His status remained unknown."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Imprisonment of Internet writers ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19090]

"In January several individuals were detained or imprisoned for their Internet writing during the year. Former Fuzhou Daily journalist and Internet essayist Li Changqing was sentenced to three years in prison for "spreading alarmist information." His Internet articles supported jailed corruption whistleblower Huang Jingao. On March 17, Ren Zhiyuan was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for "subversion of state power" for an Internet article holding that persons may rightfully overthrow tyranny through violent means. Ren was also suspected of planning to organize an opposition group called the "Mainland Democratic Front." On May 17, Internet essayist Yang Tongyan (more commonly known as Yang Tianshui) was sentenced to 12 years in prison for posting on overseas Web sites articles calling for the release of Chinese dissidents. Also in May, Internet author Guo Qizhen, who was preparing to join a hunger strike to support lawyer Gao Zhisheng and others, was detained for posting essays on a Web site supporting human rights. On October 9, Guo was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and three years' deprivation of political rights on the charge of "inciting subversion of state power." On October 12, Internet writer Zhang Jianhong was arrested and charged with "inciting subversion of state power." The police took Zhang into custody on September 6, removed disk drives and a telephone book from his house, and questioned his wife about articles he posted on Web sites. On August 12, Zan Aizong, chief correspondent of the Hangzhou Bureau of the Beijing-based China Ocean News, was detained for publishing an Internet piece criticizing the demolition of a nearby church. Zan was released on August 18, but was promptly fired. In August Deng Yongliang, another Internet essayist, was detained in Shandong Province, where he had traveled to cover the trial of legal activist Chen Guangcheng. Authorities released Deng in September but confiscated his computer hard drive and mobile telephone."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Online forums shut down and search engines filter "subversive and sensitive content" ("World Report 2007") [ID 18566]

"During the first half of 2006, Chinese officials shut down more than 700 online forums and ordered eight search engines to filter “subversive and sensitive content” based on 10,000 key words. In July, a website called Century China and its eight online forums, popular among Chinese intellectuals, was shut down for illegally providing news. In September, two chief editors of Wang Yi (NetEase), a top internet portal, were fired for allowing an unauthorized opinion poll. Blogs from prominent commentators and activists continued to be regularly shut down.

[...]

Although a Chinese government Information Office official said “no one in China had been arrested simply because he or she said something on the internet,” subversion charges in 2006 led to 10, 12, four and two-year sentences respectively for internet writers Ren Ziyuan, Li Jianqiang, Guo Qizhen, and Li Yuanlong."

Document(s): Open document

26.10.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

2-year prison sentence against Internet writer Li Jianping, more than 6 months after he was tried on charges of “inciting subversion of state authority" (" CPJ condemns two-year sentence of online journalist Li Jianping") [ID 17875]

Document(s): Open document

23.10.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Moves to ban anonymous blogging, punish “defamatory” videos ("Moves to ban anonymous blogging, punish “defamatory” videos") [ID 17953]

Document(s): Open document

19.10.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Internet-using human rights activist sentenced to 4 years in prison ("China: Internet Activist's Jailing Renews Criticism Of Beijing's Restrictions") [ID 17876]

Document(s): Open document

18.10.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

2 cyber-dissidents formally charged with subversion ("Two cyber-dissidents formally charged with subversion") [ID 17877]

Document(s): Open document

17.10.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Hebei province: Court sentences Guo Qizhen to 4 years in prison on charges of “inciting subversion” for writing essays on US-based websites that criticized the Communist Party leadership ("Wave of legal action leaves writers and activists behind bars") [ID 17878]

Document(s): Open document

09.10.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Diplomats asked to intercede on behalf of detained cyber-dissident who is being mistreated ("Diplomats asked to intercede on behalf of detained cyber-dissident who is being mistreated") [ID 17879]

Document(s): Open document

02.10.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Guangdong province: Cyber-dissident Yang Maodong charged with “illegal business activities” after being arrested on 14 September 2006 ("Cyber-dissident Yang Maodong formally arrested and charged") [ID 17880]

Document(s): Open document

20.09.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Founder of Aegean Sea, a popular Website closed down on 9 March 2006, detained on allegations of “inciting subversion” through his online political essays ("Founder of popular Aegean Sea Web site arrested") [ID 17881]

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Authorities' censorship of online publications increases; 3 cyber-dissidents - Zhang Jianhong, Yang Maodong and Chen Shuqing - arrested in the past 2 weeks ("Three cyber-dissidents arrested and websites closed in new wave of Internet censorship") [ID 17882]

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Cyber-dissident and pro-democracy activist Zhu Yufu released on completing 7-year sentence for “subversion”, 49 other cyber-dissidents still imprisoned ("Cyber-dissident Zhu Yufu freed, but fellow-activist He Depu still held as health declines") [ID 17883]

Document(s): Open document

01.09.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Cyber-dissident and pro-democracy activist Deng Yongliang arrested on 18 August while trying to cover trial of the dissident lawyer Chen Guangcheng; cyber-dissident Guo Qizhen to be tried for “subverting state authority” on 12 September ("Cyber-dissident begins third week in detention, another faces trial for subversion") [ID 17884]

Document(s): Open document

10.08.2006 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Western Internet companies are reportedly complicit in censoring political material; system of Internet censorship and surveillance, known as "Great Firewall", most advanced in the world ("Internet companies aid censorship") [ID 17959]

Document(s): Open document

10.08.2006 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Report on internet censorship ("Great Firewall"; surveillance in email and webchat; Chinese and international law; keyword censorship; multinational internet companies, government and censorship) (""Race to the Bottom": Corporate Complicity in Chinese Internet Censorship") [ID 17961]

"Political censorship is built into all layers of China’s Internet infrastructure. Known widely in the media as the “Great Firewall of China,” this aspect of Chinese official censorship primarily targets the movement of information between the global Internet and the Chinese Internet.[...]

Building censorship into China’s Internet infrastructure is the first way in which the Chinese government seeks to block user access to politically sensitive information. The second step is to prevent ISP’s—many of them privately-held businesses, some with foreign investment—from hosting politically objectionable content by holding them liable for doing so. The third step targets Internet Content Providers (ICPs): organizations or individuals (either for-profit or non-profit) who provide publicly available content on the Web (news, entertainment, or commercial websites), or who provide platforms on which users can communicate and converse with one another (chatrooms and bulletin board systems known commonly as BBS), or on which users can create and share text, photographs, audio and video (blogging services, photo- and video-sharing sites, podcasting and audio-sharing services, etc.). [...]

As in most countries, email services hosted on servers inside the PRC are expected to respond to requests by law enforcement authorities for user information and copies of email communications. Yahoo!, the only non-Chinese Internet company providing email services with user data hosted inside the PRC, has responded to information requests in criminal cases, as have all domestic Chinese businesses that provide email services. Because Chinese law enforcement bodies and courts include a range of internationally protected political speech in their interpretation of what constitute criminal acts under Chinese domestic law, Yahoo!’s compliance with Chinese law has assisted in the conviction of at least four Chinese government critics.[...]

Censorship at the gateway and ISP level can be circumvented by the tech-savvy user through the use of proxy servers and other circumvention technologies. A proxy server is an intermediary web server that the Internet user can use to access other websites indirectly, so that the ISP only sees that you are visiting the intermediary site but not the final destination site. If an Internet user configures her web browser to access the Internet via a proxy server located outside China, her web-surfing experience will be similar (although necessarily slower) to that of users in the country where that particular proxy server is hosted. Lists of proxy servers can be found on the Internet, but the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of these proxies are quickly blocked by administrators somewhere at the Chinese backbone or ISP level, making them impossible to use."

Document(s): Open document

07.08.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Editor of e-Wiki, a Chinese collaborative encyclopedia on the Wikipedia model, closes down website to avoid problems for his contributors after government threats ("Wikipedia-style online encyclopedia closes under government pressure") [ID 16965]

Document(s): Open document

03.08.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Website Polls closed down again, its Internet Content Provider licence withdrawn for the first time ("Authorities close Polls website for third time in three months") [ID 16966]

Document(s): Open document

03.08.2006 - Source: Guardian

Country's authorities closed down a popular website; more than 100 local intellectuals have condemned this act; the website, which was set up by a Hong Kong University and a Beijing research institute, had a reputation for liberalism ("Authorities close down Century China website") [ID 16967]

Document(s): Open document

31.07.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

2 blogs by leading Tibetan poet Woeser (also known as Oser or Wei Se), Tibetcul.net and Daqi.com shut down by websites that hosted them ("Tibetan poet’s blogs closed down") [ID 17184]

Document(s): http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1772994,00.html

13.07.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Guizhou: Journalist Li Yuanlong of Bijie Ribao sentenced to 2 years in prison and 2 years loss of civil rights for “inciting subversion of the state” in articles posted on the Internet ("Journalist Li Yuanlong gets two years in prison for “subversive” Internet articles") [ID 16978]

Document(s): Open document

11.07.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Release of blogger and documentary filmmaker, who was detained without charge for more than 4 months; authorities had denied him access to lawyer and withheld information on his whereabouts and allegations against him ("Chinese filmmaker, blogger Wu Hao released") [ID 16979]

Document(s): Open document

02.06.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Health of detained cyber-dissident and human rights activist Guo Qizhen worrying; cyber-dissidents Liu Shui and Xiong Zhongjun forced by the police to leave city after regularly posting political comments ("Cyber-dissident arrested, two others forced to leave town") [ID 17142]

Document(s): Open document

18.05.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Detained cyber-dissident and pro-democracy activist Zhang Lin needs immediate medical care and hospitalisation, says Zhang’s wife Fang Cao ("Cyber-dissident Zhang Lin needs immediate hospitalization") [ID 16981]

Document(s): Open document

17.05.2006 - Source: Frankfurter Rundschau

Internet-author sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for allegedly supporting exiled dissidents "Velvet Movement of China" ("Zwölf Jahre Haft für Autor von Internet-Texten") [ID 16969]

Document(s): Open document

16.05.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Cyberdissident Yang Tianshui sentenced to 12 years of jail for posting anti-government articles online; website Polls (Zhongguo guoqing zixun), carrying out and posting political surveys, closed by authorities ("China marks 40 years since Cultural Revolution with censorship and crackdown") [ID 16982]

Document(s): Open document

11.05.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Blogger Hao Wu still in detention without given reason; access to lawyer denied, reports his sister and fellow blogger Na Wu ("Detained blogger still being denied access to lawyer") [ID 16983]

Document(s): Open document

12.04.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Prosecution of Internet writer on charges of “inciting subversion” for articles criticising Communist Party leaders and Chinese government actions ("Writer Li Jianping tried for online pro-democracy articles") [#49030],  [ID 16984]

Document(s): Open document

12.04.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Yahoo ! cooperating with authorities in arrests of activists and journalists by providing information on them ("Yahoo ! employees get chance to see Chinese detainee videos outside company’s headquarters") [#49302],  [ID 16985]

Document(s): Open document

11.04.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Trial of cyber-dissident, detained since 28 May 2005, on charge of “inciting subversion of state sovereignty” in articles and comments for foreign websites will begin on 12 April 2006 ("Judges urged to acquit cyber-dissident Li Jianping on subversion charge") [#49300],  [ID 16986]

Document(s): Open document

20.03.2006 - Source: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Response on internet censorship (state regulations, technical control, enforcement, methods used to avoid censorship) ("Internet censorship, including state regulations, technical control, enforcement, and methods used to avoid censorship (2005 - 2006) [CHN101060.E]") [ID 21979]

Document(s): Open document

18.03.2006 - Source: Tageszeitung

Teacher allegedly sentenced to 10-year prison term for regime critic article in internet ("Für zehn Jahre in Haft") [#46882],  [ID 16970]

Document(s): Open document

17.03.2006 - Source: BBC News

According to the NGO Human Rights in China, teacher jailed for 10 years for an internet essay claiming people had a right to end tyranny by violent means; before high level meetings between USA and China subversion charges against a Chinese researcher for the New York Times dropped ("China jails teacher for net essay") [#46942],  [ID 16971]

Document(s): Open document

17.03.2006 - Source: BBC News

According to the NGO Human Rights in China, teacher jailed for 10 years for an internet essay claiming people had a right to end tyranny by violent means; before high level meetings between USA and China subversion charges against a Chinese researcher for the New York Times dropped ("China jails teacher for net essay") [#46942],  [ID 16987]

Document(s): Open document

17.03.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Jining: Ren Zhiyuan sentenced to 10 years of prison for "subversion of state power" by publishing anti-government articles online, including a tract entitled "The path to democracy" ("Ten years in prison for online anti-government articles") [#46995],  [ID 16988]

Document(s): Open document

15.03.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Imprisoned internet journalist Li Jianping charged by government for subverting state power; his case has twice been rejected by prosecutors for lack of evidence ("CPJ condemns latest attempt to charge journalist Li Jianping") [#46808],  [ID 16989]

Document(s): Open document

07.03.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Release of Cai Lujun, who spent 3 years in prison because of writing articles criticising the government ("Release of cyberdissident Cai Lujun at the end of his sentence") [#45826],  [ID 16990]

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2006 - Source: Tageszeitung

During 6 months of detention, no possibility for relatives to visit journalist charged for "abetting subversion" ("China "unterwandert" - Journalist angeklagt") [#45280],  [ID 16972]

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Former journalist of Bijie Daily, Li Yuanlong, charged with “incitement to subversion”; he is accused of posting series of articles on foreign-based websites about harsh living conditions of peasants in Guizhou province ("Journalist Li Yuanlong charged with “subversion”") [#45305],  [ID 16991]

Document(s): Open document

27.02.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Li Yuanlong, reporter with daily Bijie Ribao, detained on 9 September 2005 and charged with "inciting subversion of state authority" for articles he posted online ("CHINA: CPJ calls for release of journalist Li Yuanlong") [#45171],  [ID 16992]

Document(s): Open document

27.02.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

US firm Yahoo ! collaborated with prosecution of political dissident Li Zhi ("Verdict in cyberdissident Li Zhi case confirms implication of Yahoo !") [#45300],  [ID 16993]

Document(s): Open document

16.02.2006 - Source: Guardian

Yahoo, Cisco Systems, Microsoft and Google repeatedly accused of collusion with Chinese secret police in censoring web content and of selling out principles of democracy and free speech in US-Congress hearing ("Congress accuses Google of collusion") [#44229],  [ID 4137]

Document(s): Open document

15.02.2006 - Source: BBC News

Several people arrested in recent years for posting information on the internet deemed subversive; government rejects international criticism of internet regulations ("China defends internet regulation") [#44121],  [ID 16973]

Document(s): Open document

10.02.2006 - Source: Frankfurter Rundschau

Yahoo accused of assisting in prosecution of dissident Li Zhi in the province of Sichuan; Reporters Sans Frontières accuses Yahoo of regularly cooperation with security authorities ("Yahoo hilft bei Zensur") [#43834],  [ID 16977]

Document(s): Open document

09.02.2006 - Source: BBC News

Reporters Sans Frontières accuses Yahoo of providing government with information that led to conviction to 8 years imprisonment of internet righter Li Zhi in 2003 ("Chinese man 'jailed due to Yahoo'") [#43793],  [ID 16974]

Document(s): Open document

08.02.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

2,000 websites closed down in 2005; regulations so broad they can be used to suppress political thought; Amnesty International concerned about number of people in prison just for expressing their opinion on the Internet ("Beijing Tightens Hold Over Internet") [#43746],  [ID 16975]

Document(s): Open document

06.02.2006 - Source: BBC News

Authorities closed down 76 websites and ordered another 137 to remove illegal material; no details about the contents of the websites given; authorities fined owners of 29 websites and pursue 8 criminal cases against website operators ("China shuts down piracy websites") [#43509],  [ID 16968]

Document(s): Open document

06.02.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

More than 2,000 website closed down by regulators in 2005; newspaper referred to the websites as "unhealthy" ("China Closes Some 2,000 'Unhealthy' Websites") [#43579],  [ID 16976]

Document(s): Open document

15.11.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

NGO Reporters Sans Frontières publishes list of repressive governments trying to control Internet in order to silence political opposition ("World: Rights Group Lists 'Enemies Of Internet' At UN Summit") [#39269],  [ID 4138]

Document(s): Open document

27.10.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Cyber-dissident arrested because of his online reporting on workers’ protests in Chongqing ("Cyber-dissident who defended workers’ rights is detained during EU visit") [#38535],  [ID 4139]

Document(s): Open document

26.10.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Businessman who reported online about steel worker protests in Chongqing, disappeared; he is thought to be in police custody ("China: Internet writer missing after reporting on steel worker protests") [#38385],  [ID 4140]

Document(s): Open document

21.10.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Hong Kong-based reporter remains detained after he completes his 6 month in solitary confinement on a charge of spying for Taiwan ("Ching Cheong completes six months in detention on spying charge") [#38533],  [ID 4141]

Document(s): Open document

03.10.2005 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Popular Web forum closed after providing coverage and debate on turbulent recall campaign in village in Guangdong province ("In China, a popular Web forum is shuttered") [#37285],  [ID 4142]

Document(s): Open document

03.10.2005 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

2 websites based in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region closed for allegedly hosting “separatist” content ("Two Inner Mongolian websites closed because of “separatist” content") [#37287],  [ID 4143]

Document(s): Open document

26.09.2005 - Source: Guardian

State banned spreading of any news with content that is against national security and public interest; Chinese journalist and former professor given 7-year sentence for "inciting subversion" by writing articles for banned overseas news websites ("China's leaders launch smokeless war against internet and media dissent") [#37020],  [ID 4144]

Document(s): Open document

25.06.2005 - Source: Standard

All Websites, private and commercial, have to complete registration until 30. June 2005 ("China verlangt Registrierung aller Web-Sites") [#33252],  [ID 4145]

Document(s): Open document

04.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Country Report April 2005 - Freedom of Speech and the Media ("Country Report - April 2005") [#31975],  [ID 4146]

"6.10 As documented by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in their January 2005 country profile for China:

“China’s telecommunications sector is booming—from fixed-line to Internet services. China now boasts more cable television subscribers (around 100m) and mobile phones customers (270m at end-2003) than the US. It had more than 262.7m fixed-line users at end-2003. In addition, the Internet is gaining in popularity, with 79.5m users at end-2003. Mobile and fixed-line penetration rates, with around 20 subscribers per 100 people, are nevertheless still low, so that the potential for further growth remains large. The government estimates that the number of fixed-line and mobile phone users will exceed 600m in 2005. Internet protocol (IP) telephony is displacing conventional international and long-distance trunk traffic, and third-generation (3G) mobile systems are to be rolled out. [21a] (Transport, communications and the Internet)

6.11 According to Robin Munro of the China Labour Bulletin (a Hong Kong-based NGO) interviewed by the BBC on 11 January 2005:

"If anything, the numbers of arrests of dissidents, labour and rural rights activists and Internet free thinkers has been even higher lately than during [Former President] Jiang Zemin's last years in office…” [9bu]

6.12 As reported by Japan Today on 28 December 2004:

“China has shut down 1,287 websites which spread "harmful information" on religious cults, superstition and pornography, a government Internet watchdog said Monday. Among those closed were 1,129 pornographic sites and another 114 "which promoted gambling, superstitious activities and cult propaganda," said the official Reporting Center for Illegal and Harmful Information.” [15e]

6.13 As reported by Asia Times dated 20 July 2004:

“Censorship is second-nature to Chinese authorities, but surprisingly, at least two highly critical websites appear to be sanctioned, despite – or because of – their harsh criticism of official corruption and malfeasance. There is widespread speculation that reformist President Hu Jintao is encouraging freedom of speech in cyberspace in order to build public support and consensus for his views and to discredit his opponents.” [15ca]

6.14 As reported by the BBC on 30 November 2003, Liu Di (known online as “stainless steel mouse”) was released on 28 November 2003, after the apparent intervention of President Hu. [9am] As reported by the same source and by Reporters Without Borders on 26 December 2003, Lui had been detained since November 2002 after criticising the detention of Huang Qi, a prominent cyber-dissident. [9am] [8gb] According to the later source, her release was related to Premier Wen’s visit to the US the following week. [8gb]

6.15 As reported by Reporters Without Borders on 23 June 2003, Huang was arrested on 3 June 2000 and charged in January 2001 with “subversion” and “incitement to overthrow the government” after posting articles critical of the suppression of protestors in Tiananmen Square (4 June 1989). He was convicted in August 2001 and sentenced to five years imprisonment; though he did not find out the length of his sentence until 9 May 2003. [8ge]

6.16 As noted by the BBC on 11 June 2004, “China’s authorities have shown an ambiguous attitude to the rise of internet use. On the one hand they see it as essential for remaining economically competitive to have a computer literate population. But on the other hand they fear the open access to information that the internet provides.” [9aw]

6.17 As reported by the official news agency Xinhua on 10 May 2004, “To bar minors from Internet cafes, local governments across China have been ordered not to approve any Internet café operations in residential areas or within 200 metres of primary or high schools.” The same source also noted that 8,000 unlicensed cafes have been shutdown for admitting juveniles since February 2004. [13f]

6.18 According to the NGO Reporters Without Borders in a report dated 1 July 2004, China has 2,800 surveillance centres dedicated to keeping tabs on mobile phone users, especially those using SMS (text messaging). [8gf] On 14 February 2004, the BBC reported, “The 12,575 cafes were shut down between October and December 2004.” [9by]

6.19 According to the Reporters Without Borders (May 2003):

“The moderators of discussion forums have the job of ridding the site of messages that don’t conform to the rules set by the authorities on news content. Sites can also exclude a Internet user deemed “not politically correct” or too vulgar. Finally, teams have been established within the public security department to monitor “subversive” elements using the Internet in China who, as a last resort, are arrested. According to some estimates, around 30,000 people are employed in this gigantic apparatus of monitoring and censorship.”"

Document(s): Open document

14.12.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

2 cyberdissidents arrested by police in Beijing, released 12 hours after their arrest ("Cyberdissidents Yu Jie and Liu Xiaobo released") [#27669],  [ID 4147]

Document(s): Open document

14.12.2004 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

2 prominent writers and defenders of imprisoned journalists were taken from their homes and interrogated about articles they had written for overseas Internet sites; they were released after being warned to stop writing reports critical of the Chinese government ("China: Two leading writers and advocates detained and released") [#27627],  [ID 4148]

Document(s): Open document

07.12.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Cyberdissident Ouyang Yi, released; he was in prison for two years after setting up a pro-democracy website ("Cyberdissident Ouyang Yi released at the end of his sentence") [#27581],  [ID 4149]

Document(s): Open document

03.12.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Some 25 Chinese journalists and 62 cyberdissidents are reportedly currently imprisoned ("Reformist journalists and intellectuals punished and censored") [#27580],  [ID 4150]

Document(s): Open document

11.10.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Journalist found guilty of "subversion" sentenced to 12 years in prison ("French president asked to press for release of cyberdissident Huang Jinqui serving 12 years") [#26358],  [ID 4151]

Document(s): Open document

17.09.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Liaoning province: 2 cyberdissidents, accused of state subversion, sentenced to 15 and 12 years in prison by a court in Shenyang ("Two cyberdissidents handed down harsh prison sentences") [#25620],  [ID 4152]

Document(s): Open document

11.06.2004 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Hubei Province: a Chinese Internet essayist convicted of subversion but receives a suspended three-year sentence from the Intermediate People's Court in Xiaogan ("Internet writer found guilty of subversion") [#23285],  [ID 4153]

Document(s): Open document

11.06.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Xiaogan: Cyber-dissident Du Daobin sentenced to four years of house arrest by a court ("Cyber-dissident Du Daobin sentenced to four years of house arrest") [#23288],  [ID 4154]

Document(s): Open document

02.06.2004 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Chinese Internet rights campaigner Liu Xiaobo, who has been under house arrest, may have been sent to prison as he has not been seen since 28th May ("Is Liu Xiaobo in prison ?") [#23045],  [ID 4155]

Document(s): Open document

31.01.2004 - Source:

faz.net: The WorldWideWeb contributes to the process of democratisation [ID 4156]

"Kann das Internet, einst gerühmt als Technik der Freiheit, die Demokratie nach China bringen? Mancher ist nach anfänglichem Optimismus resigniert: Die Kontrolle des Netzes in China ist umfassend. E-Mails werden mit Hilfe von Softwareprogrammen wie "Wangluo Shentang" (Webdetektiv, entwickelt von der Schanghaier Firma Rainsoft) nach subversiven Stichworten durchkämmt. Seit vier Jahren gibt es die "Spezialpolizei zur Sicherheitskontrolle des Internet", die bekannte chinesische Foren rund um die Uhr überwacht. Zudem muß jeder Anbieter sein Onlineprotokoll mindestens ein Jahr lang aufbewahren, damit bei Bedarf subversive Elemente aufgespürt werden. Das Ergebnis: Gegenwärtig sitzen etwa drei Dutzend Cyber-Dissidenten im Gefängnis. [...]
Das Internet hat sich inzwischen so weit durchgesetzt, daß seine spezifische Öffentlichkeit nicht mehr ignoriert werden kann. Schon gibt es in China knapp achtzig Millionen Nutzer, täglich steigt ihre Zahl um mehr als fünfzigtausend. Nach der jüngsten Untersuchung der Chinesischen Akademie für Sozialwissenschaften verbringen junge Leute heute nicht nur mehr Zeit mit dem Internet, sie betrachten es mehr und mehr als ihre erste und zuverlässigere Informationsquelle. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

28.01.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

AI: Controls tighten as Internet activism grows ("China: Controls tighten as Internet activism grows") [#19027],  [ID 4157]

"This document updates Amnesty International's first major reports on the Internet in China, People's Republic of China: State Control of the Internet in China, ASA 17/007/2002 and People's Republic of China: State Control of the Internet in China: Appeal Cases, ASA 17/046/2002, both published in November 2002.

Since then, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of people detained or sentenced for Internet-related offences, an increase of 60 per cent in 2003 as compared to the previous year's figures. In addition, an unknown number of people remain in detention for disseminating information about the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) over the Internet. The individuals cited in this report are all considered to be prisoners of conscience. Many have been denied due process and some have been tortured or ill-treated in custody.

Internet access has expanded considerably in China over the past year. According to official statistics, the number of Internet users had risen to 79.5 million by December 2003 from 59.1 million users in December 2002 - an increase of 34.5 per cent.(1) This has presented the authorities with greater challenges in their attempts to censor and control the online activities of Internet users. Over the past year, there has been a growing trend towards assigning greater responsibilities of surveillance and monitoring to a variety of companies in China such as Internet Cafes, Information Service Providers (ISPs) and other enterprises.

Nevertheless, it appears that Internet activism is continuing to grow in China as fast as the controls are tightened. Over the last year, there have been signs of Internet users acting increasingly in solidarity with one another, in particular by expressing support for each other online. Such expressions of solidarity have proved dangerous, as a growing number of people have been detained on the basis of such postings.
[...]"

Document(s): Open document
Open document

28.01.2004 - Source: Amnesty International

AI: Controls tighten as Internet activism grows ("China: Controls tighten as Internet activism grows") [#19027],  [ID 4158]

"This document updates Amnesty International's first major reports on the Internet in China, People's Republic of China: State Control of the Internet in China, ASA 17/007/2002 and People's Republic of China: State Control of the Internet in China: Appeal Cases, ASA 17/046/2002, both published in November 2002.

Since then, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of people detained or sentenced for Internet-related offences, an increase of 60 per cent in 2003 as compared to the previous year's figures. In addition, an unknown number of people remain in detention for disseminating information about the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) over the Internet. The individuals cited in this report are all considered to be prisoners of conscience. Many have been denied due process and some have been tortured or ill-treated in custody.

Internet access has expanded considerably in China over the past year. According to official statistics, the number of Internet users had risen to 79.5 million by December 2003 from 59.1 million users in December 2002 - an increase of 34.5 per cent.(1) This has presented the authorities with greater challenges in their attempts to censor and control the online activities of Internet users. Over the past year, there has been a growing trend towards assigning greater responsibilities of surveillance and monitoring to a variety of companies in China such as Internet Cafes, Information Service Providers (ISPs) and other enterprises.

Nevertheless, it appears that Internet activism is continuing to grow in China as fast as the controls are tightened. Over the last year, there have been signs of Internet users acting increasingly in solidarity with one another, in particular by expressing support for each other online. Such expressions of solidarity have proved dangerous, as a growing number of people have been detained on the basis of such postings.
[...]"

Document(s): Open document
Open document

19.01.2004 - Source: BBC News

BBC: There was a torrent of angry comment on the internet after the woman was found guilty of no more than a minor traffic offence and got away with a suspended sentence. ("China clamps down on online justice") [#18831],  [ID 4159]

"The case of a woman BMW driver who ran over and killed a peasant farmer she had accused of scratching her luxury car has taken China by storm.
There was a torrent of angry comment on the internet after the woman was found guilty of no more than a minor traffic offence and got away with a suspended sentence.
Alarmed by the public reaction, Communist Party leaders have ordered the case reopened - but have also clamped down on further debate by telling the official media to drop the subject and closing down internet chat rooms.
The case has provided a graphic illustration not just of the extent of popular feelings about corruption and inequality but also of the internet's ability to affect the workings of a weak legal system in a country where there is no other outlet for public dissent.
It all started on the morning of 16 October last year when a tractor pulling a load of green onions scraped the side of Su Xiuwen's metallic-silver BMW in a crowded market in the northern city of Harbin.
Ms Su reportedly swore and hit out at the poor farmer and his wife who had got down from their tractor to apologise, then drove her luxury car straight into the growing crowd on the roadside, killing the farmer's wife and injuring 12 others.
Ms Su's suspended sentence for what the judge ruled was an "accidental traffic disturbance" touched off rumours that her wealthy businessman husband was related to senior provincial officials.
[...]"

Document(s): Open document

30.12.2003 - Source: BBC News

BBC: Falun Gong hacker died in jail ("Falun Gong hacker 'died in jail'") [#18564],  [ID 4160]

"A Chinese man jailed for hacking into cable television and broadcasting footage of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement has died in prison, according to the group's website. [...]
He was one of 15 Falun Gong members who illegally broadcast around 40 minutes of pro-Falun Gong material on a cable TV station in Changchun, capital of Jilin.
The Falun Gong website said that he died on 26 December in a civilian hospital. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

12.12.2003 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

RSF: Cyber-dissident sentenced to eight years in prison ("Cyber-dissident sentenced to eight years in prison") [#18242],  [ID 4161]

"Li Zhi was found guilty on 10 December of "inciting subversion of the state authority" and was sentenced to eight years in prison. The imposition of this particularly harsh sentence by the Dazhou Intermediate People's Court in southwestern Sichuan province coincided with the arrival of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on a visit to Canada. Frank Lu of the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said Li intended to appeal.

Reporters Without Borders called today for immediate release of cyber-dissident Li Zhi, who was charged on 3 September with "plotting against the state" for having contact with foreign-based dissidents through the Internet. He faces a 15-year prison sentence if convicted.
[...] The Internet has become a major target of the regime's repression since three harsh laws governing it were adopted in 2000. Thirty cyber-dissidents are in prison throughout the country for expressing their opinions online."

Document(s): Open document

01.12.2003 - Source: Washington Post

China released 3 Internet essayists who were detained a year ago for criticizing the government, but charged Jiang Lijun of subversion and sentenced him to four years in prison ("China Releases 3 Internet Writers, but Convicts 1 Other") [#17962],  [ID 4163]

Document(s): Open document

30.11.2003 - Source: BBC News

A Chinese student arrested for criticising the Communist Party on the internet has been released from prison ("China internet dissidents freed") [#17958],  [ID 4164]

Document(s): Open document

03.11.2003 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

CPJ: Internet essayist Du Daobin arrested ("China: CPJ condemns arrest of Internet essayist") [#17380],  [ID 4167]

"Du is one of 17 people currently imprisoned in China for writing or distributing information online. With 39 journalists now in prison, China is the world's leading jailer of journalists."

Document(s): Open document

21.10.2003 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

CPJ: Internet essayist Luo Yongzhong sentenced to three years in prison and two years without political rights upon release ("China: Internet essayist sentenced") [#16939],  [ID 4169]

Document(s): Open document

24.09.2003 - Source: BBC News

Sichuan province: Li Zhi, local official, arrested for voicing dissent over the internet and charged with conspiracy to subvert state power ("China online dissident 'charged'") [#16257],  [ID 4170]

Document(s):