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Showing posts from June, 2016

Translation: Administrative Provisions for Internet Information Search Services

Administrative Provisions for Internet Information Search Services Source: Cyberspace Administration of China Article 1. These Provisions are formulated in accordance with the " Decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Regarding Strengthening Network Information Protection " and the "State Council Notice Regarding Authorizing the State Internet Information Office to Assume Responsibility for the Management of Internet Information Content" in order to regulate online information search services, promote the healthy and orderly development of the information search industry, safeguard the legal interests of citizens, corporations, and other groups. Article 2. These Provisions shall be applicable to anyone engaged in Internet Information Search Services within the borders of the People's Republic of China. As used in these Provisions, Internet Information Search Services refers to services that utilize computer technology to eng

Baidu and Sina Weibo Censor Search Results About Hong Kong Bookseller Lam Wing-kee

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For additional background, see also: Baidu Begins Censoring "Gui Minhai" - Hong Kong Bookseller Detained in China   Shortly after 3:00 am on June 17, 2016, the state sponsored Global Times published an editorial entitled "Causeway Bay Bookstore Boss' Retraction' Has Little Factual Content" (铜锣湾店长“翻供”的实质内容不多). Some excerpts: Lin Rongji (Lam Wing-kee), one of the "disappeared" booksellers of Causeway Bay, held a press conference on the 16th after having returned to Hong Kong. He adopted a posture of "retracting his confession" and created a lot of waves in Hong Kong public opinion. Lin Rongji related details of how he was detained last year on October 24 at Luowu, Shenzhen, and then transferred by train to a "holding place" in Ningbo. He asserted that Causeway Bay bookshop owner Li Bo (Lee Po ) had been subjected to a "cross-border rendition" and abducted from Hong Kong by mainland Chinese law enforcement official

China's Search Engines (Except One) Stop Notifying Users of Political Censorship

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The following screenshots show that, at some time between mid-March and the end of May, 2016, China's three major search engines - Baidu, Sogou, and Qihoo - stopped displaying a censorship notice for the phrase "China's Last Leader" (中国最后领导人). Instead, Baidu and Qihoo tell users they are unable to find any search results, and Sogou returns a blank page. It is unclear exactly when these search engines stopped displaying their censorship notices, but these screenshots show that, in the case of Baidu, it happened in mid-May. This screenshot was taken in July 2009, and shows that Baidu had been placing a censorship notice at the top of certain search results for at least 7 years. These screenshots show that, while Baidu has not always censored terms like "Tiananmen Massacre," it continued to do so in June 2016, and the only thing that has changed is that it is no longer informing users when it does. This screenshot was taken on June 9, 2016, an

Baidu Censors Information About June 4, 1989 In its Forum, Knowledge, and Encyclopedia Services

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This screenshot was taken on June 4, 2016, and shows Baidu banned users from establishing a forum about “Tiananmen” (天安门) on its PostBar (贴吧) product. These screenshots show that on June 4, 2016, Baidu deleted two questions about “What Day is June 4?” from its “Knowledge” (Zhidao 知道) product.  Here are the deleted questions and answers: What day is June 4? Its a day that’s commemorates a movement many years ago. Nowadays there’s not many people who still remember the people or events of that year. 六月四日是什么日子 是多年前一个运动的纪念日。现在已经没有多少人还记得当年的那些人、那些事了。 What day is June 4? Ah, a most ordinary day. There’s no holiday or anything. Perhaps its a day that certain people commemorate. 六月四日是什么日子 很平常的日子啊 又没什么节日 可能是某某人的纪念日吧 Original URLs: http://zhidao.baidu.com/link?url=UJ99OGPtrDBHcqG4wZ7C6FeZvF0W8fLOpDeGBJC72eM4PowJDPy6gKuM71T8q07xXiKHvq--ai1n86sEzOcUYGWWzS0w5X-Dl8NEWY63BbO http://zhidao.baidu.com/link?url=G5CxSLll3JTXlKfGrNF9PBj43z9arxPfxTp-01BJo-SZB6sXXSL-swswJtfz

Here's What Sina Weibo Was Censoring on June 4, 2016

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Here are a few of the terms that Sina Weibo was censoring on June 4, 2016: Tiananmen June 4 Tiananmen 1989 (天安门 1989) Victoria Park ( 维园 )

Comparing Baidu and Bing on June 4, 2016

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The following screenshots were taken on June 4, 2017. The Bing screenshots of from Bing's global search engine, not its PRC based cn.bing.com version. A web search for "Tiananmen Square Massacre" in English. An image search for "Tiananmen Square Massacre" in English. An image search for "Wang Weilin Tank" (王维林 坦克). A web search for "Tiananmen Mothers" (天安门 母亲).

Searching for Information about June 4, 1989 on Sogou's New English Search Engine

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On May 19, 2016, the state sponsored Global Times published an article entitled “ Sogou, Microsoft Service .” Some excerpts: Sogou Inc, a search engine arm under Internet company Sohu.com Inc, teamed up with Microsoft on Thursday by launching an English language search service to further its presence in the country's online search market. With the aid of the global search technology provided by Microsoft's engine Bing, Sogou said in a statement that it can offer the latest English-language news, information and academic data to users.  The following screenshots for "Tiananmen," "Massacre," and "June 4, 1989" were taken on June 4, 2016. In each case Sogou returned no results, only a notice saying "Apologies, we cannot find the English search results you are looking for." (抱歉,没有找到你要的英文结果).

Baidu Begins Censoring "Tiananmen 27th Anniversary"

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These screenshots show that on June 2, 2016, Baidu began censoring search results for “Tiananmen 27th Anniversary” (天安门 27周年). These screenshots show that on June 2, 2016, all results from Sina's blogging service disappeared from Baidu's search results for “Tiananmen 27th Anniversary.” Baidu has imposed similar censorship in past years: Baidu's Censorship of the 24th Anniversary of the Government's "Clearing" of Tiananmen Square Watch as Baidu Implements Censorship of "Tiananmen 25th Anniversary” Baidu and Sina Weibo Censor "Tiananmen 26th Anniversary"