Stories of Infant's Murder and Changchun's Skynet Get Censored

On March 6, 2013, the state-sponsored Global Times published an article entitled "Car Theft Ends with Baby Strangled." Some excerpts:

A man who stole a car with a 2-month-old boy inside in Changchun, Jilin Province, confessed to police late Tuesday afternoon he had murdered the infant.
Zhou Xijun, 48, stole the SUV on Monday morning, triggering a province-wide manhunt involving 3,500 police officers.
The case sparked public outcry as soon as it was reported by local media, with many Web users on microblogging service Sina Weibo urging each other to help find the baby.

That same day, Weibo users began posting what was claimed to be a notice issued by the Jilin Propaganda Department entitled "Changchun Municipal Media Reporting Requirements in the March 4 Case" (3.04案件省直及长春市媒体报道要求). An excerpt:

Guide the masses to an awareness not only of the pity they should feel for infant in its misfortune, and the anger they should direct toward the criminal's wicked conduct, but also of the deep care and positive accomplishments the police demonstrated in resolving the case with respect to the public's well-being, property and security. Communicate the love and care of society and be a vehicle for society's positive energy, encouraging people to continue to treasure these social riches. Television and radio should express this content through news anchors broadcasts and brief editorials, and while strictly controlling their total output, newspapers can cover this story with their own reports, expressing the true sentiments that people share and communicate positive energy.
引导群众认识到婴儿遭遇不测让人惋惜、犯罪分子恶行令人发指，但在案件侦破过程中缺彰显了公安部门对群众生命财产安全的深度关切和积极作为，传递了社会爱心，凝聚了社会正能量，这些仍然是值得我们倍加珍惜的社会财富。电台、电视台以主持人播报或短评形式体现这一内容，在严格控制总量前提下，报纸可围绕这一主题配发自采报道，体现人间真情，传递正能量。

These screenshots show that on March 7, Tencent Weibo began censoring searches for "Changchun Prohibition Order" (长春 禁令).

These screenshots, also taken on March 7, show that Sina Weibo was censoring searches for "Changchun Prohibition Order" (长春 禁令) and "Changchun Demands Reporting" (长春 报道要求).

The Propaganda Department's alleged order also contained this statement:

The media must insist upon positive propaganda, and under no circumstances cast suspicion or criticism on the polices' handling of the case. Do not paint the Skynet Project in a negative light, and do not repeatedly interview the victim's family or other related parties.
各媒体必须坚持正面宣传，一律不得质疑和指责公安部门办案。天网工程等情况，不得渲染悲情，不要再就此案采访受害人家属和有关方面。 

On March 6, the state-sponsored Caijing Magazine had published an article entitled "ZTE Accused of Creating a Tofu Dregs Construction, Changchun's Skynet Project a Blind Person With Eyes Wide Open" (中兴通讯被指承建豆腐渣 长春天网工程成睁眼瞎). The article, which was originally available here - http://stock.caijing.com.cn/2013-03-06/112566516.html,  was quickly deleted. Some excerpts:

Internet users have expressed doubts regarding Changchun's 100 million + yuan "penetrating gaze" construction - the Skynet Project, which during the resolution of this case became a "blind person with eyes wide open." Could it be just another "tofu dregs" project?
According to an August 2010 Xinhua report, Changchun launched the second stage of its "Skynet Project" on August 11, with Changchun ZTE being the sole contractor. Three years after completion of the second stage, Changchun was to achieve complete surveillance coverage of every work unit and intersection. Currently, Changchun has already has 58,000 surveillance devices, with the number expected to reach 60,000 by year's end.
网友质疑，长春市斥上亿元建设的“火眼金睛”——天网工程，在此次破案过程中成了“睁眼瞎”，莫非又是一宗“豆腐渣”工程？
据新华社2010年8月报道，吉林省长春市“天网工程”二期建设8月11日启动，由长春联通独家承建。二期建设3年完成，届时长春市将实现所有单位、所有路口监控探头全覆盖。目前，长春市监控探头数量已达到5.8万个，今年年底，监控探头要达到6万个。

This screenshot shows that the article was also deleted from other website whwer it was reposted, such as the state-sponsored Xinmin News, where it was originally available here - http://tech.xinmin.cn/2013/03/06/19046228.html.

On March 10, QQ published an article on its Today Topic section entitled "Why Didn't the 'Skynet Project' Ensnare an Infant's Murderer?" (“天网工程”为何没有网住杀婴嫌犯). Some excerpts:

The primary mission of the "Skynet Project" is not to address common criminal cases. 

Its impossible to talk about the "Skynet Project" without also discussing the "Stability and Security Construction Project." The latter was a public security project launched in 2004. In order to build a harmonious society, the central government proposed launching in-depth "stability and security construction" nationwide, and the "Skynet Project" is an important  part of the realization of "Stability and Security Construction," to the point where people will sometimes directly refer to the "Skynet Project" as the "Stability and Security Project." In 2005, the Party's Central Politics and Law Commission issued the Opinion Regarding Deepening Stability and Security Construction," which set forth the primary goals and missions of stability and security construction: first, the early detection, comprehensive control, and effective disposition of infiltration by hostile forces and illegal activities of "Falun Gong" and other evil cults, in order to guard against the occurrence of situations that would seriously threaten national security and political stability. Second, comprehensively prevent and decrease contradictions and disputes, endeavor to bring about reconciliation of non-harmonious factors, and prevent the occurrence of large-scale mass incidents that severely threaten social stability. Third, safeguard public order in towns and villages. Fourth, prevent and reduce large scale production accidents. Fifth, investigate economic crimes in accordance with the law. It can be seen that the primary mission of "Stability and Security Construction" is "maintaining stability." Stability maintenance has been made the top priority for every "Stability and Security Construction." For example, the number one priority task in the "Henan Stability and Security Construction Program (2006-2010) was "actively prevent and appropriately handle mass incidents." 

Therefore, as a means of achieving "Stability and Security Construction," the "Skynet Project's" primary mission is "maintaining stability."  

“天网工程”的首要任务也不是打击普通刑事案件 

提到“天网工程”，就不能不提“平安建设工程”。后者是指2004年启动的一项治安工程。为了建设和谐社会，中央提出在全国深入开展“平安建设”，“天网工程”则是实现“平安建设”的重要手段，以至于有时候人们直接把“天网工程”称为“平安工程”。中央政法委2005年下发《关于深入开展平安建设的意见》，提出平安建设的目标任务：一是对敌对势力的渗透破坏活动以及“法轮功”等邪教组织的非法活动发现得早、控制得住、处置得好，防止严重危害国家安全和政治稳定的情况发生。二是从源头上预防和减少矛盾纠纷，努力化解不和谐因素，防止严重危害社会稳定的重大群体性事件发生。三是维护城乡社会治安秩序。四是预防和减少重特大安全生产事故。五是依法查处经济犯罪案件。可见，“平安建设”的首要任务还是“维稳”。各地的“平安建设”也把维稳放在第一位，如《平安河南建设纲要（2006—2010年）》的重点工作第一位就是“积极预防和妥善处置群体性事件”。 

所以“天网工程”作为实现“平安建设”的手段，首要任务也是“维稳”。