Saturday, November 22, 2014

Placing the Claims Made About the Wuzhen Global Internet Conference in the Context of Current Chinese Internet Company Practices

In a Chinese language editorial published on November 20, 2014 entitled “Looking at Wuzhen, Does China’s Internet Look ‘Localized’?” (从乌镇看中国互联网像“局域网”吗) the Global Times said:
Westerners cling with a death grip to the perception that people must put a political hat on the inconsistencies between China's and the West's approach to Internet management. They are too lazy to gain a deeper understanding of what China and the rest of the world put on display.
断然给中国与西方不太一致的网络监管扣政治帽子,这是一些西方人死抱老观念,懒于深入了解中国及其他外部世界的表现。
In the spirit of helping lazy Westerners gain a deeper understanding of what China is putting on display, the following context is offered for statements by government officials and the state run media regarding the recently-concluded Wuzhen World Internet Conference:

Official Statement: President Xi Calls for "Democratic" Internet Governance

In his "Message of Congratulations" (世界互联网大会贺词) to the Conference President Xi Jinping said:
Following the principle of mutual respect and mutual trust, China is ready to work with other countries to deepen international cooperation, respect sovereignty on the Internet, uphold cyber security, and jointly build a cyberspace of peace, security, openness and cooperation and an International Internet governance system of multilateralism, democracy and transparency. 
中国愿意同世界各国携手努力,本着相互尊重、相互信任的原则,深化国际合作,尊重网络主权,维护网络安全,共同构建和平、安全、开放、合作的网络空间,建立多边、民主、透明的国际互联网治理体系。
Context: Baidu Bans Forums on "Democracy"

This screenshot was taken on November 21, 2014, and shows that Baidu has banned users from establishing a PostBar (Tieba 贴吧) forum on the subject of "Democracy" (民主).


Official Statement: Central Propaganda Department Deputy Director Lu Wei's Call for Transparency

During his closing remarks at the Conference on November 20, 2014, Lu said:
To arrive at a consensus we must strengthen communication, seek common ground while recognizing differences, and build a multilateral, democratic, and transparent governance system for the international Internet and create a peaceful, safe, open and cooperative Internet space together. 
走向共识,我们要加强沟通,求同存异,建立多边、民主、透明的国际互联网治理体系,共同构建和平、安全、开放、合作的网络空间。
Context: Transparent Internet Governance with Chinese Characteristics

As noted previously in this blog, during the last year China’s state run media has exposed at least two cases involving police officers in Beijing and Hainan who were entrusted with censoring online content, and who abused their authority by taking bribes to order web masters to delete information that did not violate any of China’s laws, regulations, or policies. See:
On April 17, 2014, the state sponsored Southern Weekend published an article entitled “Internet Police Bribe Internet Police: Deleting Posts for Their Bosses” (网警贿赂网警:替领导删帖). According to the article, this is the censorship governance system that enabled this kind of corruption:
Anyone who had authority over the Internet could send down an order to delete a post. With respect to posts about the government that were negative, the most common demand was "Don't let them garner too much attention." "Currently the orders that come down are not in any written document, they are all issued as messages in a QQ group." 
只要是有权管网络的,都可以给高强们下达删帖等处置指令,针对政府一些负面的帖子一般要求“不要炒作”。“现在下达指令并没有书面的文件,都是以QQ群里面的留言的方式下发的。”
These screenshots show that the article was deleted within hours.



State Run Media Report: Global Internet Connectivity

On November 20, 2014, China’s official news agency Xinhua published an article entitled “China Holds First World Internet Conference, Urges Better Governance.” Some excerpts:
China held the First Internet Conference in the rivertown of Wuzhen, calling for global Internet interconnectivity and shared governance by all.
. . . .
Lu Wei, minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China, hoped the attendees would make plans for Internet interconnectivity and shared governance as well as promote consensus and to make a historical contribution for the Internet.
Context: China's Weibos Censor Information About China's Manipulation of Internet Interconnectivity

These screenshots show that on the same day Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo were censoring search results for “Overseas Websites Completely Unblocked at China Wuzhen Internet Conference” (中国乌镇互联网大会全面解禁境外网站).



State Run Media Report: Freedom vs Order

The same day Xinhua published a Chinese language article entitled “Becoming an Internet Superpower with the ‘Wuzhen Net’” (走向网络强国的“乌镇网事”) which quoted Lu Wei as saying:
With Internet interconnectivity there must also be respect for sovereignty, with fast development there must also be guarantees of security, with calls for freedom there must also be respect for order, with self reliance there must also be cooperation. 
The purpose of the Internet security censorship system is to safeguard Internet security and national security, safeguard the healthy development of the economy and society, and safeguard the interests of China’s consumers. We are not targeting specific countries or enterprises. Rather, it includes all countries an all enterprises.  
既要互联互通,也要尊重主权,既要加快发展,也要确保安全,既要提倡自由,也要遵守秩序,既要自主自立,也要开放合作。  
网络安全审查制度是为了维护网络安全和国家安全、维护经济社会健康发展、维护中国消费者的利益,我们不针对某一个国家、某一个企业。当然,也包括一切国家和所有的企业。
Context: On Baidu's Forums, Discussion of "Order" is Allowed, but Not "Freedom"

These screenshots were taken on November 20, 2014, and show that Baidu was banning forums on the topic of “Freedom,” (自由), but had allowed users to establish a forum for “Order” (秩序).


State Run Media Report: Domestic Companies Wielding Influence Abroad

The same day state sponsored Global Times published an English language article entitled “China Lays Out Vision for Web Governance.” Some excerpts:
Centering on the theme of "An Interconnected World Shared and Governed by All," the conference is covering topics that include global Internet governance, mobile Internet, cross-border e-commerce, cybersecurity and  combating terrorism on the Internet.
. . . .
[The conference and Xi's message] show that the Chinese government has placed higher priority on managing the Internet, as China is becoming an Internet superpower, with a huge number of Web users and the global influence of Chinese Internet companies like Alibaba," Wei Wuhui, an Internet and new media expert with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, told the Global Times.
Context: Censorship of Reports Linking Chinese Internet Companies to Government Officials

On July 20, 2014, the New York Times published an article entitled “Alibaba’s I.P.O. Could Be a Bonanza for the Scions of Chinese Leaders.” The article appeared in Chinese the following day under the title “The Red Descendants Behind Alibaba’s IPO” (阿里巴巴上市背后的“红二代”赢家). These screenshots show that on July 26, Sina Weibo began censoring search results for "Alibaba New York Times" (阿里巴巴 纽约时报).



State Run Media Report: Users Must Be Responsible for Their Speech

From the same Global Times article:
"Development without discipline and regulation will not be sustainable. As the Internet has developed, problems have emerged. Xi's initiative to construct an international Internet governance system provides direction and practical steps for solving those problems," Huang Chengqing, vice-president of the Internet Society of China and a participant at the conference, told the Global Times. 
As the development of the Internet provides individuals with greater freedom to speak and share information, the public should also be responsible for their speech and conscientious about disseminating information that will harm the country's development, said Huang.
Context: Censorship of United Nations Reports

On March 18, 2014, a statement entitled “Deadly Reprisals: UN Experts Deplore the Events Leading to the Death of Chinese Human Rights Defender Cao Shunli, and Ask for Full Investigation” (致命报复:联合国专家对导致中国维权人士曹顺利死亡的事件表示痛惜,并要求予以彻查) was published on the web site of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

These screenshots show that on March 20, a Baidu user searching for “Cao Shunli site:ohchr.org" (曹顺利 site:ohchr.org) got four results, the first of which was the foregoing statement. A user doing the same search on March 21 only got two results, and the foregoing statement was not among them.


State Run Media Report: China is Quite Guileless

In a Chinese language editorial published the same day entitled “Looking at Wuzhen, Does China’s Internet Look ‘Localized’?” (从乌镇看中国互联网像“局域网”吗) the Global Times said:
It is hoped that Wuzhen will become a new starting point for global interconnectivity for the Internet. China's way of doing things is not riddled with "plots" as imagined by Westerners. With respect to the issue of opening to outsiders, China is actually quite guileless
希望乌镇成为网络世界互联互通的新起点。中国做事并非西方想的那样每一步都充满“谋略”,在对外开放的问题上,中国其实蛮淳朴的。
Context: China's Weibo Censor Information About China's Cyber-Attacks

On February 21, 2013, the state-sponsored Global Times published an English article entitled "Regular Cyber Attacks From US: China." Some excerpts:
In a report released Monday, Mandiant pointed its fingers at a Chinese military unit named People's Liberation Army (PLA) Unit 61398, saying the Shanghai-based outfit had systematically stolen confidential data from at least 141 organizations across 20 industries.
. . . .
"China should strive for a greater say in laying out international rules on cyber security," Da told the Global Times on Wednesday, suggesting that in response to continuous accusations, China, also a big victim of cyber attacks, can "fight" back with concrete evidence.
These screenshots show that immediately after the publication of the New York Times report, both Sina Weibo and Tencent Weibo began censoring searches for Unit 61398 (61398部队).



Thursday, November 20, 2014

Baidu Censors Information About Political Figure's Suicide (Again)

On November 17, 2014, the website of the Beijing Youth Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Youth League committee in Beijing, published an article entitled “Hong Kong Media: PLA Navy Deputy Commissar Ma Faxiang Died After Jumping From a Building” (港媒:海军副政委马发祥跳楼身亡). It was deleted within hours.

The Beijing Youth Daily article as cached by Baidu
before it was deleted.
Shortly after the Beijing Youth Daily article was deleted, the China Daily published an article entitled “PLA Navy Deputy Commissar Ma Faxiang Died After Jumping From a Building, Was Engaged in Public Activities Last Month” (海军副政委马发祥跳楼身亡 上月公开活动)

The China Daily article.
These screenshots show that, about the same time the Beijing Youth Daily article was deleted, Baidu began restricting search results for “Ma Faxiang Suicide” (马发祥 自杀) and “Ma Faxiang Jumped” (马发祥 跳楼) to a strict white list of about a dozen website operated by the central government and Communist Party (which includes the China Daily but does not include the Beijing Youth Daily).



Both the China Daily and the Beijing Youth Daily covered similar facts:

  • They based their reporting on a report in Hong Kong’s Ta Kung Pao.
  • Vice Admiral Ma Faxiang was believed to have died after he leapt from a building at a naval complex in Beijing on November 13th.

But the reports differed in several aspects, for example, the China Daily article did not speculate as to why Ma committed suicide. Another article, this one from China.com.cn (which is also on Baidu’s strict white list) speculated that the suicide was the result of “depression.”

The deleted and censored Beijing Youth Daily article, however, said there were rumors that Ma's suicide was directly related to corruption and his having talked to the Central Disciplinary Commission.

This is not the first (or even the second) time that Baidu has censored results about an official committing suicide. For more examples, see this post: After Person Reportedly Commits Suicide Baidu Censors Searches for Their Name (Again) http://blog.feichangdao.com/2014/03/after-person-reportedly-commits-suicide.html

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Baidu, Sina, and Tencent Promise to Enforce Real Name Registration for Online Comments, Ask Users to Abide by the Socialist System

On November 6, 2014, China’s official news agency Xinhua published an article entitled “Chinese Websites Promise to Tighten Comments Management.” Some excerpts:
Twenty-nine major Chinese websites have promised to better manage the comments of their users as authorities call for a clean Internet. 
Representatives from the 29 web portals, including Tencent.com, Sohu.com, 163.com and the official website of Xinhua News Agency, signed the letter of commitment at a meeting organized by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC - 国家互联网信息办公室) on Thursday. 
These websites promised to ensure that "their users register, post and write comments with their real identity," according to the commitment letter. 
They also "promise to and sincerely ask all users to consciously abide by the 'seven bottom lines' -- law and rules, socialist systems, national interests, citizen's legitimate rights, social public order, morality and authenticity of information -- when posting."
In addition the websites promised to block 18 categories of comments, including those using:
  • language other than the language normally used to make comments;
  • words intended to deliberately circumvent censorship technology.
A full translation of the rules, entitled “Self-Discipline Commitment Letter on the Administration of Discussion and Commentary” (跟帖评论自律管理承诺书), is available here: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2014/11/translation-self-discipline-commitment.html.

The rules were announced by Ren Xianliang (贤良表), deputy director of the CAC, who told the assemble website operators:
To manage the Internet in accordance with the law it is not only necessary to focus on controlling the sources where news information is produced, it is also necessary to place a high degree of focus on steering and safeguarding the publication process flows.
依法管网不仅要重视管好新闻信息源头的生产,还要高度重视传播流通过程的引导和维护。
According to a Caixin report published on November 3, Ren also warned them that they shouldn’t allow conversations to be “led around by the nose by a minority of Big Vs.” (不能被少数大V牵着鼻子走).

Xinhua also published this list of signatories, which included Baidu, the Global Times, and the People’s Daily. Here is the list in Chinese: 新华网、人民网、中国网、国际在线、中国日报网、央视网、中国青年网、中国经济网、中国台湾网、中国西藏网、中国新闻网、中青在线、中国广播网、光明网、正义网、环球网、法制网、中工网、中国军网、千龙网、新浪网、搜狐网、网易网、腾讯网、凤凰网、百度网、财新网、今日头条、澎湃新闻 

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Reports on Xi Jinping Statement on Foreign Journalist Visas Disappear From State Media

On November 12, 2014, New York Times reporter Mark Landler asked President Xi Jinping:
Several news organizations from the United States have had issues with residency permits in China being denied, including The New York Times.  I’m wondering in the spirit of these reciprocal visa arrangements that you’ve agreed to this week with business people and students, isn’t it time to extend that sort of right to foreign correspondents who seek to cover your country?
President Xi responded:
And China protects our citizens' freedom of expression and the normal rights and the interests of media organizations in accordance with law.  On the other hand, media outlets need to obey China's laws and regulations.  When a car breaks down on the road, perhaps we need to get off the car to see where the problem lies.  And when a certain issue is raised as a problem, there must be a reason.  In Chinese, we have a saying:  The party which has created a problem should be the one to help resolve it [literally, “Let he who tied the bell on the tiger take it off”].  So perhaps we should look into the problem to see where the cause lies.
Xi’s statements were initially reported by several state sponsored media outlets in China. For example, according to a report from the Shanghai-based “The Paper” (澎湃新闻), Xi’s statement in Chinese was:
中国政府依法保护公民的言论自由以及媒体的正当权益。但是各媒体也要遵守中国的法律。一个车子如果开到半截抛锚了,我们就要下来检查一下哪里出了毛病。中国人讲解铃还须系铃人,所以我们都可以找找原因。
However, as these screenshots show, these reports were removed from the websites of The Paper, the China Daily, Phoenix News, and Sichuan Radio and Television by November 15.

China Daily: “An Open Letter to the New York Times: News Reports Cannot Step Beyond the Limits of China’s Laws” (致纽约时报一封信:新闻报道勿跨中国法律雷池半步)
Original URL: http://cn.chinadaily.com.cn/2014-11/14/content_18917707.htm


Phoenix News: “New York Times Asks About Visas Being Rejected for American Reporters, Xi Jinping: The One Who Created the Problem Should Fix It”  (纽约时报提美国记者签证被拒问题 习近平:解铃还须系铃人)
Origina URL: http://news.ifeng.com/a/20141113/42461168_0.shtml


Sichuan Radio and Television: “Xi Jinping Responds on ‘American Reporters Being Denied Visas’: The One Who Created the Problem Should Fix It”(习近平回应“美记者签证被拒”:解铃还须系铃人)
Original URL: http://news.sctv.com/gnxw/szyw/201411/t20141115_2151168.shtml


The Paper: “Taiwan Independence, Tibet Independence, National Security: Nothing Was Off Limits During the 10 Hours of Talks Between Xi and Obama in Beijing” (习奥北京交谈长达10小时:台独、藏独、国防等话题无不涉及)
Original URL: http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1278000


Saturday, November 15, 2014

Free Speech with Mainland Chinese Characteristics as Metaphor: Cars, Tigers, Shoes, Water & Guests (But No Shields)

Fang Binxing: Its Like Bringing Water on a Plane


On February 18, 2011, the English language website of the Global Times (published by the People's Daily) published an article about Fang Binxing (方滨兴) entitled "Great Firewall Father Speaks Out." It was originally here - http://special.globaltimes.cn/2011-02/624290.html - but was subsequently deleted. It remains available here:


According to Fang:
The firewall monitors them [websites] and blocks them all. It's like when passengers aren't allowed to take water aboard an airplane because our security gates aren't good enough to differentiate between water and nitroglycerin.


Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson: Its Like Going to Battle Without a Shield


During the Ministry's regularly schedule press conference on March 3, 2011, foreign journalists asked Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Jiang Yu (姜瑜) about journalists being prevented from reporting on events in Wangfujing on February 27:
Follow-up Question: Can you specify which article of which law in China that we have broken?
Answer: You have broken the rule that applications are required prior to reporting at that location. Don't use the law as a shield. The truth is some people are eager for the fray and attempt to create trouble in China. For those with that kind of motive, I don't think the law can protect them.
追问:你能明确告诉我们违反了中国哪项法律的哪个条款吗?
答:违反了去那个地方采访需申请的有关规定。不要拿法律当挡箭牌。问题的实质是有人唯恐天下不乱,想在中国闹事。对于抱有这种动机的人,我想什么法律也保护不了他。


Source: http://www.mfa.gov.cn/mfa_chn/fyrbt_602243/jzhsl_602247/t803799.shtml

Its Like Stripping to Go Through Airport Security


Mo Yan (莫言) the 2012 Nobel Laureate in literature was quoted in articles posted on the website of the Shanghai City Government as well as state sponsored media such as the Economic Observer, as saying when asked about censorship in China at a press conference at the Royal Swedish Academy on December 6, 2012, Mo said:
When I was taking my flight, going through the customs ... they also wanted to check me — even taking off my belt and shoes. . . . But I think these checks are necessary.

Its Like Being a Guest in Their Home


On October 30, 2014, in response to a question from a reporter asking why Facebook is blocked in China Lu Wei (鲁炜), director of the State Internet Information Office, responded:
Since time immemorial China has been hospitable and welcoming, but if someone comes to our home as a guest, I get to choose. I can say two things, I have no way to change you, but I have the right to choose my friends. I hope everyone who comes to China is a friend, a true friend.
中国历来都是好客热情的,但是谁到我家作客,我是有选择的。我可以讲两句话,我没有办法改变你,但是我有权利选择朋友,我希望到中国来的都是朋友,是真朋友。


Its Like Maintaining a Car and/or Teasing a Tiger


On November 12, 2014, New York Times reporter Mark Landler asked President Xi Jinping:
Several news organizations from the United States have had issues with residency permits in China being denied, including The New York Times.  I’m wondering in the spirit of these reciprocal visa arrangements that you’ve agreed to this week with business people and students, isn’t it time to extend that sort of right to foreign correspondents who seek to cover your country?
President Xi responded:
And China protects our citizens' freedom of expression and the normal rights and the interests of media organizations in accordance with law.  On the other hand, media outlets need to obey China's laws and regulations.  When a car breaks down on the road, perhaps we need to get off the car to see where the problem lies.  And when a certain issue is raised as a problem, there must be a reason.  In Chinese, we have a saying:  The party which has created a problem should be the one to help resolve it [literally, “Let he who tied the bell on the tiger take it off”].  So perhaps we should look into the problem to see where the cause lies.
Xi’s statements were reported by several state sponsored media outlets in China, but then were subsequently deleted. According to these reports, Xi’s statement was:

中国政府依法保护公民的言论自由以及媒体的正当权益。但是各媒体也要遵守中国的法律。一个车子如果开到半截抛锚了,我们就要下来检查一下哪里出了毛病。中国人讲解铃还须系铃人,所以我们都可以找找原因。



Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Baidu Begins Censoring "Putin Peng Liyuan" After Internet Users Praise "Ironman" For Putting Coat Over First Lady's Shoulders

On November 11, 2014, China's official news agency Xinhua published an article entitiled "Ironman Putin Drapes a Coat Over Shoulders of China's First Lady Peng Liyuan, Internet Users Praise Putin's Chivalry" (硬汉普京为中国第一夫人彭丽媛披外套,网友称赞普京好绅士).

These screenshots show that the following day the article was deleted and replaced with a notice saying: “Apologies! The Article you are looking for has already been deleted or expired.” (抱歉!您查看的是已删除或过期的稿件)


Original URL: http://www.qh.xinhuanet.com/2014-11/11/c_1113206115.htm

These screenshots show that, at the same time the Xinhua article was deleted, Baidu began censoring search results for “Putin Peng Liyuan.” (普京 彭丽媛).


For another example of Baidu censoring news about the wife of China's president Xi Jinping, see
Peng Liyuan Takes Photo With iPhone, China's Major Web Sites Censor "Peng Liyuan iPhone

Monday, November 10, 2014

Deleted China Daily Report Says Facebook, YouTube Refuse to Delete Terror Material. Here’s How Baidu and Others Handle It

On October 2, 2014, the state sponsored China Daily published an article entitled “Facebook, YouTube Refuse to Delete Terror Material.” Some excerpts:
In a campaign aimed at cracking down on online content with porn, scams, terrorism and violence, the China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Center received complaints about videos that promote jihad from the East Turkestan Islamic Movement - part of an international terrorism network listed by the United Nations Security Council - in the world's largest tech and social media websites including Facebook and YouTube. 
Facebook and YouTube have made little effort to delete such information and hardly any content has been removed since its report of these gruesome videos, said the organization under the Internet Society of China.
. . . .
Wang Xin, an analyst from the Internet Society of China, said sophisticated strategies used by terrorist groups should prompt government departments to work even closer with social media companies. 
However, since Facebook and YouTube have been blocked by China's firewall, improving their relationship with the Chinese government may not be easy.
As these screenshots show, that report was subsequently deleted from the China Daily website.


The report published by the China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Center (中国互联网违法和不良信息举报中心) was entitled “Complaint Center September 2014 Complaint Processing Status — Foremost Cases Involving Obscene Pornography, Fraud, and Online Rumormongering Reports” (举报中心2014年9月举报受理情况——淫秽色情、诈骗和网络谣言举报量位居前列). An excerpt:
Internet users have reported that overseas websites including Facebook and Youtube disseminated violent terrorist harmful information, and published terrorist videos propagating "Jihad" from the "East Turkestan Islamic Movement" terrorist organization. After this was passed on by the Reporting Center, the response from these two websites on this harmful information was slow, and their removal rate was low. The Reporting Center denounces the passive approach Facebook, Youtube, and other websites have adopted with respect to violent terrorist information reported by Internet users.  Besides this, domestic websites such as RenRen, IronBlood, and Ziling also disseminated terrorist harmful information, and the reporting center notified the relevant websites to remove 78 items of harmful information on their websites suspected of being violent terroristic. 
网民举报,脸谱(Facebook)、优兔(Youtube)等境外网站传播暴恐有害信息,发布恐怖组织“东伊运”宣扬“圣战”的暴恐视频。经举报中心转交后,两家网站对有害信息的处置反应滞后、删除率很低。举报中心对脸谱(Facebook)、优兔(Youtube)等网站消极对待网民举报暴恐信息予以谴责。此外,境内网站人人网、铁血社区、子陵论坛等也有传播暴恐有害信息现象,举报中心通知有关网站删除网上涉暴恐有害信息78条。
The following screenshots were taken on October 13, 2014, and show search results on various China-based Internet video services for “East Turkestan” (东突).

Baidu tells users that search results are censored. The first 17 results
are from the official state sponsored television broadcaster.
The remaining three results are from other state run media outlets.

Ku6 tells users it is unable to find any results. 
Soku tells users that search results may relate to illegal content and
cannot be displayed.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

China/Japan Officials Talk Senkakus/Diaoyus, Baidu Bans Forum on "Senkakus," Allows Forum on "Diaoyus"

On November 7, 2014, the state sponsored Global Times published an editorial entitled “China-Japan Easing a Welcome Surprise.” An excerpt:
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi met with Japan's visiting National Security Advisor Shotaro Yachi on Friday and reached a four-point consensus on improving China-Japan relations.
. . . .
The four-point agreement is a result of China's persistent struggle with Japan without compromise in the past two years. Now that Japan has agreed to sit down with China to talk about crisis management, it is equal to admitting that the disputes over the Diaoyu Islands' sovereignty have become the new reality.
These screenshots were taken on November 9, 2014, and show that Baidu has allowed users to establish a “Diaoyu Islands” (钓鱼岛) PostBar (Tieba 贴吧) forum, but bans users from establishing a “Senkaku Islands” (尖阁诸岛) forum.


In September 2012, following prolonged massive protests in front of the Japanese embassy in Beijing, Baidu posted a doodle on its home page showing an island with a PRC flag on it.


At that time, Kaiser Kuo, Baidu’s director of international communications, offered this explanation:
The overwhelming majority of Baidu’s employees and users clearly feel very strongly on this topic, but our purpose was to encourage people to be rational in their expressions of patriotism, to renounce violence and other forms of extremism. Planting a digital flag to express your feelings on the matter of the Diaoyu Islands is a much better alternative to throwing rocks or smashing cars.Clicking on the doodle leads to a page entitled "Diaoyu Islands, China's!
See: http://blog.feichangdao.com/2012/09/on-anniversary-of-japanese-invasion.html


Thursday, November 6, 2014

Translation: Self-Discipline Commitment Letter on Administration of Discussion and Commentary

Self-Discipline Commitment Letter on Administration of Discussion and Commentary

In order to thoroughly implement the rule-the-country-with-law spirit of the Fourth Plenum of the 18th  Party Congress and fulfill the requirements of the State Internet Information Office of "operating the Internet in accordance with the law, managing the Internet in accordance with the law, going online in accordance with the law," this website hereby publicly makes the following commitments in order to perfect administration of discussion and commentary self-discipline:

1. As used herein, discussion and commentary services refers to using online interactive publishing technology platforms to provide services to allow users to publicize comments and opinions about any kind of information published on this website (including without limitation voice, text, images, audio, and video information).

2. This website will endeavor to ensure that views exchanged in comments and opinions are civil, rational, amicable, and of high quality. While encouraging the development of comments and opinions, it will ceaselessly strengthen related information security management capabilities, perfect self-discipline for comments and opinions, thoroughly carry out its social responsibilities, respect the nation's laws and regulations, respect the legal rights and interests of citizens, and respect social order and common decency.

3. This website will insist upon users registering their accounts with real identity information when utilizing commenting and opinion services.

4. This website commits, and will require of its users, that utilization of commenting and opinion services shall voluntarily obey and shall not violate the "Seven Bottom Lines" of Laws and Regulations, the Socialist System, the National Interest, Citizens' Legal Rights and Interests, Social Order, Moral Norms, and Factual Information.

5. This website commits, and will require of its users, that the following information shall not be published:

(i) violating the basic principles of the Constitution;
(ii) jeopardizing national security, divulging state secrets, subverting the government, undermining national unity;
(iii) harming national honor and interests;
(iv) inciting ethnic hatred or ethnic discrimination, undermining ethnic unity;
(v) inciting regional bias or regional hatred;
(vi) violating state religion policies or propagating cults and feudal superstitions;
(vii) spreading rumors, disturbing social order, or undermining social stability;
(viii) spreading obscenity, pornography, gambling, violence, murder, terror or instigating crimes;
(ix) insulting or libeling others or infringing on other people's legal rights and interests;
(x) intimidating or threatening others, conducting online vigilantism;
(xi) publicizing private information of anyone under the age of 18 without the written authorization from their legal guardian;
(xii) spreading filthy speech or harming social order or the public good;
(xiii) infringing on the intellectual property of others;
(xiv) spreading commercial advertisements or similar commercial solicitation information;
(xv) using language other than the language normally used to make comments on this website;
(xvi) information completely unrelated to the information being commented upon;
(xvii) information that is completely meaningless or using words intended to deliberately circumvent technical screening measures;
(xix) containing information prohibited under other laws and administrative regulations.

6. With respect to users who violate the foregoing commitments, this website shall, based on the circumstances, undertake administrative measures including issuing a warning, blocking publication, deleting posts, temporarily suspending commenting, or permanently shutting down accounts. With respect to those cases involving comments and opinions that violate the law, its shall retain information and make timely reports when subjected to investigation by relevant government agencies.

7. This website commits that it shall improve public reporting platforms, and welcome users oversight to report all kinds of illegal publishing activities and illegal harmful information in order to build clean and bright Internet spaces together.

跟帖评论自律管理承诺书

为深入贯彻十八届四中全会依法治国的精神,落实国家互联网信息办公室“依法管网、依法办网、依法上网”的要求,本网站为完善跟帖评论自律管理,现公开作出如下承诺:

 一、本网站所称跟帖评论服务,是指通过运营网络互动传播技术平台,供用户对本网站传播的各类信息发表评论意见(包括但不限于语音、文字、图片、音频、视频等信息)的服务。
   
二、本网站致力使跟帖评论成为文明、理性、友善、高质量的意见交流。在推动跟帖评论业务发展的同时,不断加强相应的信息安全管理能力,完善跟帖评论自律,切实履行社会责任,遵守国家法律法规,尊重公民合法权益,尊重社会公序良俗。
   
三、本网站坚持用户以真实身份信息注册账号、使用跟帖评论服务。
   
四、本网站承诺、并诚请所有用户,使用跟帖评论服务将自觉遵守不得逾越法律法规、社会主义制度、国家利益、公民合法权益、社会公共秩序、道德风尚和信息真实性等“七条底线”。
   
五、本网站承诺、并诚请所有用户不发表下列信息:
    (一)反对宪法确定的基本原则的;
    (二)危害国家安全,泄露国家秘密,颠覆国家政权,破坏国家统一的;
    (三)损害国家荣誉和利益的;
    (四)煽动民族仇恨、民族歧视,破坏民族团结的;
    (五)煽动地域歧视、地域仇恨的;
    (六)破坏国家宗教政策,宣扬邪教和迷信的;
    (七)散布谣言,扰乱社会秩序、破坏社会稳定的;
    (八)散布淫秽、色情、赌博、暴力、凶杀、恐怖或者教唆犯罪的;
    (九)侮辱或者诽谤他人,侵害他人合法权益的;
    (十)对他人进行暴力恐吓、威胁,实施人肉搜索的;
    (十一)未获得未满18周岁未成年人法定监护人的书面同意,传播该未成年人的隐私信息的;
    (十二)散布污言秽语,损害社会公序良俗的;
    (十三)侵犯他人知识产权的;
    (十四)散布商业广告,或类似的商业招揽信息;
    (十五)使用本网站常用语言文字以外的其他语言文字评论的;
    (十六)与所评论的信息毫无关系的;
    (十七)所发表的信息毫无意义的,或刻意使用字符组合以逃避技术审核的;
    (十八)法律、法规和规章禁止传播的其他信息。
   
六、对违反上述承诺的用户,本网站将视情况采取预先警示、拒绝发布、删除跟帖、短期禁止发言直至永久关闭账号等管理措施。对涉嫌违法犯罪的跟帖评论将保存在案、并在接受有关政府部门调查时如实报告。
   
七、本网站承诺,完善公众举报平台,欢迎用户监督举报各类不法传播活动和违法有害信息,以共同营造清朗的网络空间。
承诺人:          

(公司)
   
(签名)

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Internet Regulator Lu Wei: "I Believe That Some Websites May Not be Accessible"

On October 31, 2014, the state sponsored Global Times published an article entitled “Beijing Has ‘Never Shut Down’ Overseas Websites.”  According to that article:
China has never shut down any overseas websites and its management over websites aims to protect China's national security and consumers' interests, said Lu Wei, director of the State Internet Information Office at a press conference on Thursday.
A transcript of Lu’s comments was published on the Xinhua website. Below are some excerpts:
TV Asahi: I have two questions. The first is, Facebook and other Western websites are inaccessible in China, why has China shut down these websites. The second question is, in recent times there has been a clear increase in the degree of website deletions and account closures in China, and there is information indicating that the SIIO will issue administrative measures on mobile applications, does this mean that China wants to restrict online speech? In the future how will you balance Internet regulation and free speech? 
You asked three questions. I didn't hear clearly which Western websites cannot be accessed in China. I have no experience using these websites, and I don't know if they are blocked or not. But I believe its possible that some websites may not be accessible. But what I want to make clear is that our administration is done in accordance with PRC law, and every measure that we take is for the protection of China's national security and the interests of China's consumers. What I want to make clear is that we have not shut down a single overseas website. Your website is in your home, how can we run over to your home and shut down the website in your home. Since time immemorial China has been hospitable and welcoming, but if someone comes to our home as a guest, I get to choose. I can say two things, I have no way to change you, but I have the right to choose my friends. I hope everyone who comes to China is a friend, a true friend. Thanks. 
The second question, you say that the degree of website deletions and account closures has increased, but I don't get that feeling. But I can tell you, the Fourth Plenum of the 18th Party Congress has just concluded, and it raised the goal of ruling the country in accordance with the law. To rule the country in accordance with the law it is necessary to rule the Internet in accordance with the law, and to rule the Internet in accordance with the law it is necessary to use rule of law thinking to promote the rule of law-ism in the Internet space. Ruling the Internet in accordance with the law it is first necessary to rule the Internet in accordance with the Constitution, and all the regulations that we promulgate, for example the "Nine Prohibiteds" and "Seven Bottom Lines," every single provision was promulgated in accordance with China's Constitution. For example, Article 1, Clause 1 of the Constitution provides that "The socialist system is the basic system of the People's Republic of China. Sabotage of the socialist system by any organization or individual is prohibited." Now we must further strengthen ruling the Internet in accordance with the law, operating the Internet in accordance with the law, managing the Internet in accordance with the law, going online in accordance with the law, and using the law to regulate behavior in Internet spaces.
. . . .
Phoenix TV Reporter: You just mentioned the Facebook website, I recall that you had said that there is no way this kind of website would be allowed to enter China, and that China immediately implemented an Internet security screening system. What to do you think about the critiques of outsiders who say that the implementation of this system of ours is obstructing certain foreign enterprises from entering China? 
Lu Wei 
You also asked two questions. First, when I was in Davos I did in fact notice that various media were asking me whether "Facebook" could enter China. The media said I said "absolutely not." Today I can tell you, this is false reporting. Of course, I also did not say that "Facebook" could enter. I neither said it could not enter China, nor did I say it could enter China. What I want to say is that China's policy of openness to the outside will not change, because it is one of our fundamental policies. For foreign Internet companies wanting to enter China, our bottom line is that must comply with China's laws and regulations. Laws an regulations have two bottom lines, the first is not harming the national interests of China, the second is not harming the interests of China's consumers. What we will not permit is getting a piece of China's market, earning China's money, and in return harming China. This sort of situation is something we are unwilling to tolerate. All that is required is obeying China's laws and regulations, and we welcome all Internet companies in the world to enter the China market. The China market really is too big. 
You also mentioned a question about the Internet security screening system, and the fact is we did issue some information about establishing an Internet security screening system. Where does our Internet security screening system come from? It is something learned from America and other Western countries. Our Internet security screening system is intended to safeguard Internet security and national security, and safeguard the healthy development of the economy and society, and safeguard the interests of China's consumers. We are not targeting a particular country or a particular enterprise. Of course it will also include all countries and all enterprises. 
朝日电视台
我有两个问题,第一个问题,西方一些网站比如说Facebook在中国无法访问,请问中国为什么要关闭这些网站?第二个问题,近段时间中国各家网站删贴关闭帐号力度明显加大,有消息称,网信将出台APP管理办法,这是不是中国政府要收紧网上言论?未来怎么平衡互联网管理和言论自由?
你问了三个问题。我没听清你是说哪一个西方的网站在中国无法访问。我没有用过这些网站的体验,我不知道它们是不是被关闭。但有些网站无法访问的情况,我想可能是存在的。但是我要说明的是,我们的管理都是按照中国法律进行的,我们所采取的一切措施都是依法维护中国的国家安全和中国消费者的利益。我还要说明的是,我们没有关过境外的任何一家网站,你的网站在你家里,我怎么可能跑到你家去关你家的网站呢?中国历来都是好客热情的,但是谁到我家作客,我是有选择的。我可以讲两句话,我没有办法改变你,但是我有权利选择朋友,我希望到中国来的都是朋友,是真朋友。谢谢。
第二个问题,你说各家网站的删帖、关闭帐号的力度加大,我没有这方面的感觉,但是我可以告诉你,中国中共十八届四中全会刚刚闭幕,提出了依法治国的目标。要依法治国,就要依法治网,依法治网就是要用法治的思维推动网络空间法治化。依法治网首先是依宪治网,我们出台的所有法规,比方说“九不准”,还有“七条底线”,每一条都是对照中国宪法来出台的。比方说宪法第一章第一条就规定“社会主义制度是中华人民共和国的根本制度,禁止任何组织或个人来破坏社会主义制度”。我们现在要进一步加强依法治网、依法办网、依法管网、依法上网,用法治来规范网络空间的行为。[ 2014-10-30 16:32 ]
. . . .
[凤凰卫视记者]
刚才提到Facebook这样的网站,我记得您表示过这样的网站不可能让它进入中国,中国马上实施网络安全审查制度,请问您怎么看待外界一些评论,认为我们这个制度的实施就是在阻止有些外国的企业进入中国?谢谢。
[鲁炜]
你也问了两个问题。第一,我当时在达沃斯的时候确实注意到了有个别媒体问我“脸谱”能不能进入中国?媒体说是我说的“绝不可能”。我今天可以跟你说,这是一条虚假新闻,当然,我也没说“脸谱”就可以进入。我既没有说它不可以进入中国,也没有说它可以进入中国。我想说,中国对外开放的政策是不会变的,因为它是我们的基本国策,外国互联网企业进入中国,我们的底线就是要符合中国的法律法规。法律法规就两条底线,一是不得损害中国的国家利益,二是不得伤害中国的消费者利益。我们现在不能允许的是,既占了中国市场,又挣了中国的钱,还来伤害中国,这种情况我们是不能允许的。只要遵守中国的法律法规,我们欢迎世界所有的互联网企业进入中国市场,中国市场确实太大了。
[鲁炜]
你刚才又谈到一个网络安全审查制度的问题,确实我们发布了建立网络安全审查制度的消息,我们网络安全审查制度是从哪儿来的呢?是从美国等西方发达国家学来的。我们的网络安全审查制度是为了维护网络安全和国家安全、维护经济社会健康发展、维护中国消费者的利益,我们不针对某一个国家、某一个企业。当然,也包括一切国家和所有的企业。谢谢。

Translation: Xu Zhiyong's Statement in His Own Defense

 Source: https://chinadigitaltimes.net/chinese/694913.html China Digital Times: On April 10, 2023, Xu Zhiyong, a well-known human rights de...