Increasingly, Chinese and Tibetan citizens both inside and outside areas of Chinese Government control are seeking information through the internet and other forms of online media.
The speed and bredth of information access which these mediums allow is a huge threat to the Chinese Government as they attempt to maintain propagandist views of 'sensitive issues' such as human rights, the Tinananmen Square massacre and Tibet.
As such, the Chinese Government goes to great lengths to control the internet and to limit the amount of information its citizens are able to uncover.
Google and Chinese censorship
On 13 January 2010, Google announced that it would consider pulling out of China after it emerged that hackers had been attempting to access the Gmail accounts of human rights activists. Google instead decided to drop the web filters imposed on Google searches by the Chinese government, leading to content which had previously been censored suddenly being made available to web users in China. Google users in China reported that content such as images of the Tiananmen Square massacre were suddenly available using a Google images search.
In March 2010, Google began redirecting web traffic within China to its uncensored Hong Kong site, with the US government voicing its support of Google's decision by using the news as an opportunity to criticise web censorship in China. Read Google's statement here.
However in July 2010, Google reversed this decision, deciding to return to filtering content as instructed after it became clear that the Chinese government would only renew Google's licence to operate within China if it did so. Free Tibet led a high profile campaign against Google in 2006, when Google and other companies originally agreed to self-censorship in order to operate in the Chinese market. It is hoped that other companies will also challenge the Chinese regime on censorship as Google has done, and that Google will be able to return to providing uncensored content in the future. You can read about the 2006 Google campaign here.
In China and Tibet, websites such as the BBC, Free Tibet, Phayul.com and the Tibetan Government webiste are banned, as are thousands of sites relating to issues such as democracy, Taiwan, the Dalai Lama or human rights. Those reporting or writing on sensitive issues or challenging the state are at enormous risk of dismissal from work, arbitrary detention or imprisonment.
Many Tibet-based websites are regularly closed down – either permanently or temporarily – for material deemed political or critical of the government appearing on their forums. This website, freetibet.org, is censored in China, though it is apparent that some Chinese citizens manage to circumvent these strict controls. The 'Great Firewall' works by filtering site content through a series of remote servers, but sites which frequently switch locations have been known to avoid this problem. Netizens within China and Tibet have also developed their own ways to access banned content, making the authorities all the more determined to bring in new software which uses advanced methods to block sites which are deemed 'harmful'.
A Yahoo! search for 'free Tibet' shows no results in China
In 2005, China introduced new restrictions on internet content, relating to “politics, economics, military affairs, foreign affairs and social and pubic affairs”. China’s new internet regulations launched in September 2005 put even further restrictions on information by preventing the distribution of any uncensored news in both websites and e-mail. In June 2009, the Chinese authorities announced a plan to implement a new piece of software called 'Green Dam-Youth Escort', under the premise that it would protect underage web users from accessing pornographic content. However, experts stated that the software can also be used to block internet sites for political reasons, including any information regarding Tibet or the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989. The Chinese authorities hope that by continuing to censor internet content, they will be able to keep its people in the dark about the true face of the Chinese Government. China currently employs 30,000 internet police to monitor and crack down on any dissent in people’s e-mails or on websites, and said that it aimed to have all PCs built and used in China equipped with 'Green Dam-Youth Escort' by 1 July 2009.
However, after widespread criticism of the plan, the Chinese Government reportedly backed down over Green Dam's implementation, making the software optional. Opposition to the software was rife on the internet and public opinion in and outside China seems to have had an impact after the 'blacklist' of keyword topics which Green Dam blocks was leaked on the internet. The list included references to Falun Gong and Tiananmen Square, despite government assurances that it was to be used to block pornographic material. The software was designed by Jinhui Computer System Engineering, a military-backed company based in Henan. The leak also referred to the wording of the agreement between Jinhui and the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information, which stated that it aimed to restrict access to pornography and other "harmful information".
Following the leak, the US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke urged China to shelve demands that computer manufacturers pre-install the software, saying "China is putting companies in an untenable position by requiring them, with virtually no public notice, to pre-install software that appears to have broad-based censorship implications and network security issues." Along with US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Locke wrote to the Chinese authorities expessing their concern. Kirk said that "mandating technically flawed Green Dam software and denying manufacturers and consumers freedom to select filtering software is an unnecessary and unjustified means to achieve that objective, and poses a serious barrier to trade." However, a Chinese Government official stated that "the users have the final say on the installation of the Green Dam-Youth Escort... the Government's role is limited to having the software developed and providing it free."
In August 2009, the Chinese Government officially dropped its plans to introduce Green Dam, calling all former references to citizens being required to install it 'a misunderstanding'. Li Yizhong, China's Industry and Information Technology Minister, said that the Chinese Government "respected the choice of individuals who do not install it". He also made a point of referencing rights groups and individuals who had criticised the plan, saying "those who overstated and politicised the issue, or even attacked China's internet regulation, are irresponsible," The apparent turn-around came after widespread condemnation of the scheme from rights groups, governments and Chinese bloggers, over 1,000 of whom, led by journalist Wen Yuchao, had signed up to a plan to sidestep the software by accessing the internet through 'proxy servers' in different countries, which would have effectively prevented Government control and observation of their internet activities going forward. It is already known that many Chinese netizens use proxy servers to access information which the Government would otherwise be able to block from their view.
Despite dropping the Green Dam system, China brought in new controls on website registration in February 2010, requiring anybody who wishes to set up a website in China to go through a screening process including a meeting with official website regulators.
Popular Tibetan bloggers Woeser (left) and Jamyang Kyi (centre) have both been arrested in the past for the political content of their writings, whereas Dhondup Wangchen's (right) film 'Leaving Fear Behind' has been shared across the world via the internet.
On 13 January 2010, Google threatened that it would move it's operations out of China unless censorship was relaxed after it emerged that hackers were attempting to access the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. When questioned whether Google believed the Chinese government was behind these attacks, Google spokespeople replied that they could not evidence such accusations. Google's drive to expand it's Chinese market had been less fruitful than some analysts predicted, in part due to the strict censorship of content, which prevented Google from supplying its customers the service they wishes to offer. Google's Senior Vice President of Corporate Development David Drummond said "These attacks and the surveillance they have uncovered, combined with the attempts over the past year to further limit free speech on the web... have led us to conclude that we should review the feasibility of our business operations in China."
As a result, Google withdrew its censorship of web results on its google.cn service, making previously censored materials available across China. This move meant that Chinese web users would be able to find images of the Tinanamen massacre and of protests in Tibet as well as videos and web sites which the government regards as politically 'sensitive'. However, since the Chinese government controls access to websites themselves, sites with political content are still censored in China. Baidu, Google's main rival in China, was hacked on the same day as Google's announcement, and the entire Chinese firewall was reportedly subject to a crash for two hours the week prior, indicating that China is likely to face more challenges to it's strict controls of information access as the 'cyberwar' continues.
David Drummond went on, "Over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all." Google's announcement met with widespread support on internet blogs and Twitter across the world. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded to Google's statement by saying that their allegations "raise very serious concerns and questions... we look to the Chinese government for an explanation. The ability to operate with confidence in cyberspace is critical in a modern society and economy." David Drummond later elaborated further: "We were always uncomfortable with China having censored our search results. We thought by being there we could be a force of openness. In fact, that has not happened. Things have gotten tighter... We discovered that the activist had been under surveillance. And this just became something that we were not willing to do any more. We want to stay in the Chinese market, we just don't want to filter our search results any more... The thing that is important to recognise is that internet censorship is a real problem, and not just China. It is time for governments to get involved."
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks about internet controls in January 2010
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu commented in regards to Chinese law by stating "China like other countries administers the internet according to law. China's internet is open, and the Chinese government encourages development of the internet." She added "Chinese law proscribes any form of hacking activity." News agencies with correspondents in China reported that in practice, web censorship is firmly in force in China. Furthermore, US web experts later reported not only had tthe hacking of human rights advocates' Gmail accounts indeed taken place, but that the hacks had all the hallmarks which pointed to the Chinese state being behind such hacks.
After news of the hacks became known, a Yahoo spokeswoman said that Yahoo was 'aligned' to Google on this issue, and spoke of the 'deeply disturbing' attacks as a violation of the privacy of web users. It went on "Yahoo condemns all cyber attacks regardless of origin or purpose. We are committed to protecting user security and privacy and we take appropriate action in the event of any kind of breach." Yahoo's Chinese partner company Alibaba reacted by stating that Yahoo "was reckless given the lack of facts in evidence," and that "Alibaba doesn't share this view." Web security company Mcafee also offered it's expertise on the issue, saying that this was 'a watershed moment in cyber security' and that the complexity of the hacks suggested that a large organisation or nation state was responsible. Haim Mendelson, a professor of electronic business at Stanford, said "If Google leaves China, I think the impact of that is China gets a black eye. It's going to make it a little more difficult for China to attract other foreign companies. People will remember what happened to Google."
Google decided to redirect web traffic within China to its uncensored Hong Kong site, but later reversed this decision when in July 2010 it transpired that the company would not be able to obtain a renewal of its licence to operate within China unless it once again conformed to the Chinese government's directions regarding censorship. Free Tibet hopes that other companies will follow Google in publicly challenging web censorship in China, and that Google will be in a position to operate uncensored searches in China in the future.
The Dalai Lama addressed the importance of the censorship issue in February 2010, when he said "censorship ... is the source of the problem... The Chinese people have no opportunity to know our issue. Once China becomes an open society; freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of information; all this unnecessary fear and doubt will reduce."
After Google's challenge to Chinese censorship, another company, Go Daddy, stopped resistering domain names in China, saying "we made a decision we didn’t want to act as an agent for the Chinese government." The example set by companies like Google and Go Daddy proves that it is possible for large companies to challenge Chinese government censorship were governments often fail, while exposing Chinese citizens to content which the Chinese government wishes to keep secret. Such actions could have far reaching consequences for information access in China and Tibet.
Some of many 'politically sensitive' images which Chinese citizens Googling 'Tiananmen' may now see
After unrest in Xinjiang on 5th July 2009, China blocked internet access to prevent news and discussion being spread. Government reports stated that local Uighurs had been behind riots in the region, and that many Han Chinese civilians had been killed. Other sources suggested that Chinese police had reacted violently to peaceful protests, and tensions had risen on both sides from there. Reuters reported that pictures of badly mutilated dead bodies were removed from the internet shortly after being posted, and that Twitter was also blocked in Beijing and Shanghai, with references to terms such as 'Uighur', 'Xinjiang' and 'Urumqi', the region's capital, showing no results. It was also reported that Shanghai site pchome.net had carried postings by Chinese netizens regarding the unrest, but that these had been removed a few hours later, apparently in an attempt to prevent discussion of the issues raised by the events in Xingjiang. The original protests in Xinjiang seem to have been organised, often using online communication such as Twitter and social network sites, after a video was shared on YouTube showing Uighurs in Southern China being chased by a mob and reportedly killed. Use of these technologies on both sides demonstrate how information can be spread despite China's iron grip, and how determined the Chinese government is to curb access to such information, fearing that the Chinese people will also use these facilities to demand greater freedoms.
What Chinese netizens would see when trying to access YouTube in spring 2009
When Chinese citizens go abroad, they are suddenly faced with uncensored web content, and are able to learn about the actions of their government against the Tibetan people, Falun Gong and the brutality which the Chinese Government uses to suppress dissent among its own people. Many Chinese citizens are shocked by these findings and the huge amount of photographic, video and testimonial evidence stacked against the Chinese Government line, and by statements criticising China's human rights record. It is always important to note that both the aggressive actions of the Chinese authorities and the lack of information available to Chinese people are policies determined by the Chinese Government rather than its people, who are as much victims of this lack of freedom of information as the other groups whose views the Government suppresses.
In October 2006, leading Tibetan writer Woeser’s online blogs were also closed by the Chinese authorities after she posted a birthday greeting to the Dalai Lama. Her book “Notes on Tibet” was banned in 2004. Shortly after the ban, Woeser, who writes in Chinese, was fired from her job, evicted from her home and lost her social welfare entitlement. She was also forced to write articles recognising her “political errors”. Woeser was also arrested during the Olympic Games in 2008.
During the Olympic Games, Beijing's internet censorship was briefly relaxed following international pressure on China to adhere to the standards of information access demanded by the International Olympic Committee. However, Beijing did not fully comply with these demands, and websites such as Free Tibet's and others relating to human rights in China and Tibet, Falun Gong sites and student activism and democracy resources remained barred during and after the Games. The Chinese Government also withdrew Chinese access to Apple's ITunes facility when Apple refused to remove a chart topping Tibet support album from its catalogue.
In seeking to restrict the internet, the Chinese regime intends to control the amount of factual information available to the Chinese (and Tibetan) people, allowing them to continue pushing propaganda views about issues which it has deemed threatening to its survival as the governing power in the country. Examples of state propaganda campaigns which rely on preventing real facts being popularised on the internet include the vilification of the Dalai Lama and the denial of brutal crackdowns on peaceful protests in Tibet.
In contrast, during the 2008 uprising, Tibetans were able to use technology to expose the real situation on the ground in Tibet, sharing videos, photos and emails with the outside world, despite strict controls. In 2009, this trend continued as a video shot on a mobile phone showing thousands protesting in Ragya was being shared on the internet within a day of the protest taking place. China's response to this increase in the use of technology to expose the true situation in Tibet has been harsh; in January 2009, six thousand Tibetans in Lhasa were rounded up and questioned in dawn raids, some being arrested for downloading recordings of the Tibetan national anthem onto their mobile phones. There have also been instances of Tibetans jailed for lengthy terms for sending email to the outside world, such as the case of the NGO worker Wangdu, who recieved a life sentence in December 2008 for sharing emails with contacts outside China and Tibet.
Google news pages from spring 2008 (Left) in Hong Kong, the search shows reports of protests in Tibet. (Right) The same search in China reveals no such articles
In late 2008, a group of Chinese intellectuals submitted 'Charter 08', a document calling for greater freedoms in China, and also for human rights to be respected in Tibet. The internet was one of the primary ways in which information on 'Charter 08' was shared and discussed before access was cut. Liu Xiaobo, who organised the charter, said that "we will definitely open again. If it can't be in China, then we will open our website overseas." With an estimated 50 million bloggers, China is one of the fastest growing internet markets, and represents one of the most web-savvy populations in the world. The threat of the power which this population holds is a growing worry to such a guarded government. China Media Project researcher David Bandurski said "controlling the media continues to be a top priority for the (Communist) Party... but there has been a shift towards the Internet as a focus." In 2008, official statistics cited that China's internet users had risen to 298 million, 42% up from the previous year. With the economic crisis likely to hit China in a time of potential dissent, the large numbers of web-wise students who may find it hard to find jobs after graduation is a particular worry, since their knowledge of the internet and its applications as a method of uniting disenfranchised citizens into political groups could become a larger threat to the authorities' stranglehold on power. In December 2008, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said "we hope that the relevant websites can comply with China's concerns and not do things contrary to Chinese law. This will help establish a good cooperation between China and the relevant countries, as well as China and the relevant websites." In 2009, the Chinese Government reportedly blocked the video sharing website YouTube after video footage of police brutality against unarmed Tibetans recorded in March 2008 was released (below). Chinese bloggers regularly use YouTube, and many defend their government's human rights record using YouTube's comments boxes. The fact that these self same bloggers would have suddenly been blocked from using the site only serves as evidence that the Chinese Government is fearful that its own people would be likely to lose trust in their government should such facts be known. Other online media such as Flickr and Twitter have also reportedly been censored in China at times of political sensitivity, such as around the twentieth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in spring 2009. The Chinese authorities have also blocked access to newsmedia sources such as CNN and the Times when stories revealing crackdowns on Tibet were carried.
In March 2009, the internet spying network 'GhostNet' was exposed in the media as accusations were made that it is linked to the Chinese Government. After tests were carried out on computers at the Dalai Lama's offices, researchers compiled evidence showing that the Tibetan spiritual leaders' computer systems had been compromised by 'malware' which was capable of intercepting all incoming email communications, switching on webcams and stealing other sensitive information. It could also activate speakers on computers and record conversations taking place in the room. The researchers traced the origins of the malware, thought to be activated through opening deliberately infected email, to China, but were careful to avoid blaming the Chinese Government directly. However, some of the evidence suggested a connection, such as one case where after the Dalai Lama's office sent an invite to a foreign diplomat, the Chinese Government called the diplomat to persuade her not to attend. The research showed that GhostNet had attacked the computers of governments, political groups and individuals in over 100 countries. Despite having operated for two years, GhostNet was suddenly shut down two days after the extent of its operations was revealed in the New York Times.
Another popular method of sharing information in China and Tibet is blogging, which is a far more commonplace pastime in the region that it is in the west. It has been estimated that there are over five million bloggers in China and Tibet, and there have been some high profile cases of those who post political material being imprisoned for long periods for doing so, such as Norzin Wangmo and Kunga Tsayeng. 2009 has seen a growing crackdown on Tibetan bloggers, as the Chinese government seeks to prevent political dissent from spreading through this highly popular medium. Since blogging is highly popular with the Han Chinese population, the emergence of more blogs with polutical content threatens to undermine state control of information access and could well mark a new and powerful medium for politcal mobilisation against the current regime.
Tibetan blogs inaccessible
In August 2009, many blogs by Tibetans in Tibet were taken down. This is not an uncommon practice during times of political significance, such as the period around the Tibetan uprising anniversary or building up to the Olympics in Beijing, But the lack of access to Tibetan blogs at a time of less significance seems to indicate that the online voices of Tibetan bloggers are being silenced indefinately through the shutting off of this form of expression.
Dechen Pemba, a Tibetan blogger living in exile, wrote on her blog at Global Voices:
'Quite alarming to report that all of the most popular Tibetan language blog hosting sites (except one) have been inaccessible for almost three weeks now.
Although it is fairly common practice for Tibetan language blog hosting sites to be taken down (sometimes for “maintenance”) at times deemed sensitive by the authorities (see ‘All Quiet on the Tibetan Blog Front‘), this month holds no particular political significance as far as I can see.
Sites which are still inaccessible today include the most popular ones, www.tibettl.com and www.tibetabc.cn which hosts the blog of popular Tibetan-language writer and blogger, Jamyang Kyi. The last Tibetan language blog hosting site standing is, inexplicably, ChodMe (Butterlamp) http://www.cmbod.cn/index.html
In what was already a restrictive environment, the development that independent blog spaces are being curbed and officially controlled Tibetan language sites are springing up, is a worrying one.'
The advent of the 'Green Dam-Youth Escort' software marks a further tightening of internet restrictions in China. Shi Zhao, a Chinese blogger, stated that the keyword filters in the program were "much, much bigger than those related to pornographic content." There have also been claims that if installed, Green Dam will limit the time a user can spend on social network sites. The software developers say that this is to "prevent them from becoming addicted." Furthermore, experts say that tests run on the software reveal serious errors which could allow damaging viruses to infect the PCs on which the software is run. J. Alex Halderman, a researcher, said he found "serious vulnerabilities that allow any Web site the user visits to take control of the PC." There have also been allegations that the software allows authorities to 'spy' on users, facilitating close monitoring of what sites are being viewed and by whom.
Though the Chinese authorites stated that parents are happy to see the new software in use, Peking University journalism professor Xie Xinzhou stated on the Chinese Communist Party website that by introducing more filtering software, the Chinese Government is "treating all Internet users as children." Li Fangping, a human rights lawyer in Beijing who has filed a law suite against Green Dam, said that the move to demand all PCs be fitted with the software "lacks a legal basis. Designating that the same software must be installed on all computers affects citizens' rights to choose." He also stated that "the impact of this software will be huge. It will violate the rights of many citizens... But people were not told anything about it until a few weeks before its launch. This seriously violated the citizen's right to be informed."
Even the Chinese media have spoken out against the new software and the continuing attempts by the Chinese Government to control the internet. A column in the Economic Observer said "the Government ought to delegate rights to individuals and start becoming a service-oriented Government rather than a controlling one."
Results of Google images searches for 'Tiananmen' in China (left) and the UK (right) in 2009
As technology becomes more freely available and the means of producing photos, videos, blogs and sharing news more accessible to the general public, more and more people within China's borders are able to share alternative views and communicate with the outside world, gaining what the authorities regard as sensitive information. Both Chinese and Tibetan people are becoming more and more adept at using online media to share their views on life under the current Chinese government, and to discuss issues such as huamn rights and freedoms. By sharing opinions through blogs, email, poetry and music, people living under the Chinese regime are bravely standing up to strict controls on freedom of speech, inspiring others to demand greater freedoms themselves.
Examples of this include Woeser's popular blog 'Invisible Tibet', Dhondup Wangchen's film 'Leaving Fear Behind', Tashi Dhondup's music and the rap video 'New Generation' by Amdo group Yudrug, whose songs have been shared between Tibetans and Chinese free-thinkers using blogs, and which boldly state the desire for freedom amoung the younger generation of both Tibetan and Chinese people challenging state controls on free speech on the internet today. As long as the Chinese government continues it's attempted whitewash of the internet as a tool for sharing such ideals, these calls for change will only grow stronger as they spread throughout all ethnic communities under Chinese control.
Amdo rap group Yudrug have shared thier music on their blog, ensuring their voices are heard
The Chinese state remains on the defensive on the issue of freedom of information, allocating huge money and resources into its ongoing attempts to control the internet, and therefore protect itself from the likely reaction its own people may have to learning about its true policies and practices. Though international companies manufacturing computers and software could stand up to Chinese demands to install filtering software is present in machines made or used in China, many such companies have backed down on similar issues before, wishing to protect their Chinese markets.
However, the increasingly web-savvy population and the swiftly progressing nature of the technologies being used mean that the Chinese Government's desperate bid to control information access through online media will require more and more resources as time goes on, and as both Chinese and Tibetans find new ways to ensure that their right to freedom of information is realised.
Everyday services blocked in China and Tibet
Various services which are used by millions of people on a daily basis outside China and Tibet are inaccessible there, blocked by the Chinese government due to fears that citizens will be able to gain and share information about the true nature of their government and its human rights record. Here are just a few of the services which are blocked in China and Tibet:
Facebook 65 million people across the world use Facebook to keep in touch with friends and re-establish connections with loast aquaintances. But in China and Tibet, Facebook has been blocked since the Xinjiang unrest of July 2009. The Chinese Central Committee announced on 10 July 2009 that a Facebook group had been established entitled 'Global protests. Support Uighurs to seek independence', and that this group had 'overstepped the boundaries of normal cyber activities and become a foothold for Xinjiang independence organisations' collusion and alliance overseas'. The report claimed that '81.5% of netizens voted to support punishing Facebook by conniving with Xinjiang independence forces'. The result has been the suspension of Facebook in mainland China.
Some Chinese citizens living overseas have expressed their outrage at this development online, with netizens posting messages such as 'I am blocked getting in touch with my family! When will FB and Twitter will lift the ban?' and 'this is the only way i keep in touch with my friends,,unblock the FB'.
Fanfou The Chinese-hosted 'clone' of Facebook was shut down completely during the Xinjiang unrest, and is highly unlikely to resurface. Unlike Facebook, the Chinese government is able to delete the entire service, whereas web-savvy users in China have been able to find ways around the contols to access services which do not originate in China.
Twitter The micro-blogging service Twitter is gaining momentum as a source of information and interaction between people using both computers and mobile phones to share brief messages. It has also been used to 'smuggle' information out of oppressive countries, and was put to good use by protesters in Iran during the disputed elections and consequent crackdowns in 2009. As such, the Chinese authorities are keen to avoid its citizens from being able to post photos, videos and information updates to each other and those in the outside world through this facility.
Twitter.com, the most common vehicle through which people use the Twitter service, has been blocked in China and Tibet since 6 July 2009, again as a reaction to the Xinjiang unrest. However, as with many social media outlets, netizens are finding ways around government controls, and the growing access to technology in China and Tibet will only make these practices more and more common.
When Twitter was blocked in June 2009, a blogger named Michael Anti was quoted in the Guardian saying "Twitter is a tool which can put all the sensitive things and sensitive guys together, very quickly. That's the very thing that the Chinese government doesn't want to see in China. Twitter is a crucial icon for the new internet era on which many innovations emerge. China can't block their young generation from the future."
Youtube Often a thorn in the side of the Chinese government, Youtube users in China, Tibet, Xinjiang and outside Chinese controlled areas have often posted videos critical of the Chinese government, including Tibetan monk Jigme Gyatso's video testimony of the torture he suffered while imprisoned in Tibet and the Tibetan government-in-exile's release of shocking footage of Chinese soldiers beating unarmed Tibetans during the 2008 Tibet protests. When the latter was releaed in spring 2009, Youtube was blocked in China and Tibet, and again in June 2009. It has not been accessible since. Access to Youtube was also shut down during the 2008 Tibet protests, ensuring that Chinese citizens were only able to see the footage released by state run media outlets.
As with other online services, netizens in Chinese controlled areas have found ways sround these controls. Youtube has also carried many pro-Chinese government videos and postings often prompt responses defending the Chinese government's stance. As an open forum, Youtube allows users to express their political views, regardless of their opinions, and it is this kind of freedom of expression which the Chinese government fears could become popular in China and Tibet. By blocking Youtube, China helps to underline the opinions put forward by those who oppose their stance, since pro-government Youtube users realise that criticisms of the government are correct when information access is suddenly barred.
Fickr The photo sharing website Flickr was blocked in China from June 2009, coinciding with eth 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989. It has since been accessible.
Hotmail Hotmail was also blocked from June 2009, again in an apparent attempt to prevent users inside Chinese controlled areas from sharing information on a web-based service.
Blogs Blogging is extremely popular in China and Tibet, but as of August 2009, it appeared that almost all Tibetan blogs had been blocked by the Chinese authorities in a clear attempt to prevent Tibetans from sharing information about the situation in their country with each other and the outside world. The harsh punishments handed down to Tibetans who share political opinions in blogs and emails further deepens the ciimate of fear which exists in Tibet today. The same is true of Chinese bloggers who wish to express political views, but whether these crackdowns will be beneficial to the Chinese government's desperate attempts to stifle political opinion remain to be seen.
Internet access It goes without saying that internet sites like www.freetibet.org are inaccessible in China and Tibet, but other sites such as CNN, BBC and Apple's I-Tunes have also been barred in China in recent years after carrying stories which reveal the true face of teh Chinese government, or in Apple's case by promoting songs in support of the free Tibet movement. Though this does prevent users from accessing 'sensitive' information, the increasingly affluent Chinese population are finding more and more ways around these controls, and even the absense of information on topics like Tiananmen Square and Tibet spark distrust of the Chinese government among its own people.
Some articles on internet censorship in China and Tibet:
