Sunday, September 2, 2012

Baidu Restricts "Bo Xilai" Web (But Not News) Search Results to Government/Party White List (Again)


These screenshots show that, prior to August 21, 2012, a search for "Bo Xilai" on Baidu returned results from Baidu's broad white list, which includes websites under the direct control of the central government and Communist Party (Xinhua, People's Daily, etc.), as well as large China-based news websites (Phoenix) and portals (Sohu, Tencent, Sina).

Some time between August 21 and August 27, however, Baidu began restricting search results to its strict white list, which comprises only Baidu's own "Baike" and websites under the direct control of the central government and Communist Party.

Baidu News Results for "Bo Xilai"
It is worth noting, however, that this censorship only applies to web search. As this screenshot, taken on September 2, shows, a search for "Bo Xilai" on news.baidu.com returns search results from foreign websites such as Hong Kong's Takung Pao and the Chinese language edition of the New York Times. The top two results displayed by Baidu News read:

Bo Xilai's National People's Congress Qualifications Under Scrutiny - Takung Pao, September 1, 2012
After the conclusion of the 28th meeting of the 11th National People's Congress Standing Committee, He Shaoren, director of the National People's Congress General Office's Press Office told a press conference that, as regards the issue of the qualifications of various representatives, at this time one representative had submitted their resignation because of severe breaches of discipline, and three representatives' had terminated as a result of their having died due to illness.
薄熙来人大代表资格受关注
十一届全国人大常委会第二十八次会议闭幕后,全国人大常委会办公厅新闻局局长何绍仁在新闻发布会上就个别代表资格的问题表示,这次有一名代表因严重违纪提出辞职请求,三名代表因病去世代表资格自然中止

Japan Media: Chinese Communist Party Decides to Strip Bo Xilai of His Party Membership - Takung Pao, August 26, 2012
According to Hong Kong media's reporting of a Japanese media outlet's (Asahi News) headline news, the Chinese Communist, which has gathered at Beidaihe, has already decided to strip Chongqing's former Central Committee Secretary Bo Xilai of his Party membership, and to investigate his responsibility in former deputy mayor Wang Lijun's seeking refuge in the American Consulate. The report cited leaks from several people who had been in contact with senior Chinese Communist Party leaders who had participated in the Beidaihe meetings this month. Beidaihe was also centered on whether People's Congress representatives have immunity from arrest, and is preparing to strip Bo Xilai of his qualification as a National People's Congress representative.
日媒:中共决定剥夺薄熙来党籍
据港媒援引日本《朝日新闻》头版报道,聚集在北戴河的中共,已经决定剥夺重庆前市委书记薄熙来的党籍,追究他对前副市长王立军投奔美国领事馆的责任。 报道引述多名接触过本月上旬参加北戴河会议的中共高层人士透露,北戴河又围绕人大代表有不被逮捕的特权,准备剥夺薄熙来的人大代表资格
These screenshots, taken the same day, show that searches on Baidu web search for "Bo Xilai site:nytimes.com" and "Bo Xilai site:takungpao.com" return no results, just a notice saying "Search results may not comply with relevant laws, regulations, and policies, and have not been displayed. It is suggested you try other related terms." (搜索结果可能不符合相关法律法规和政策,未予显示。建议尝试其他相关词。).


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