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IFLA/FAIFEIFLA/FAIFE calls on the Chinese government to end censorship of Internet access and allow freedom of expression onlineMedia release 13 July 2005
At a time when China is becoming more and more significant on the world stage in terms of trade and technological development, the increasing curtailment of the freedom of its citizens to access the information they choose is deeply disturbing. In addition to their continuing use of technological restrictions, the Chinese authorities are tightening control of the Internet, through measures against bloggers and website operators. This is an attempt not merely to silence and punish critics of the government, but also to prevent citizens' general interaction in the online public sphere, says the Chair of the IFLA/FAIFE Committee Professor Paul Sturges. IFLA urges rethink The elimination of freedom of access to information and freedom of expression will deeply affect the development of a country and its people. Those with influence in China must demonstrate their commitment to full participation in the information and knowledge society. This means to actively work for the provision of unrestricted access to information in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. IFLA urges the Chinese government to reconsider their attitudes towards the country’s Internet users and permit full freedom expression online. Access to information, knowledge and lifelong learning is central to democratic development and active participation and influence in society. It is a fundamental human right as specified in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Chinese government’s attitude towards the circulation of information is one that cannot be reconciled with Article 19 nor the aspirations of the nations attending the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunisia in November 2005. Furthermore, IFLA strongly suggests that western computer companies providing assistance to the government consider the effects of their actions on freedom of expression in the country. China must be seen as more than just a market for western companies to gain a foothold in – it must be seen as a country where citizens have rights to access the information they choose and to disseminate the opinions they hold without consequences. - END - Contacts:
Background Restrictions on website owners and bloggers In the past five years the censorship of online information in China has been extensively reported by many organisations such as Amnesty International and the Open Net Initiative. An extensive filtering system is in operation that restricts Chinese Internet users' access to information on topics such as democracy, human rights and Taiwanese independence. This year authorities in China have sought to extend these restrictions by concentrating on the country’s bloggers and website operators. In March 2005 the Chinese government announced their intention to close down all China-based websites and blogs that did not officially register with authorities by the end of June. Blogs provide individual Internet users with a convenient and easy way to exchange information and discuss topics of interest among a wider audience. The Chinese government is intent on stifling debate in the country’s blogosphere by restricting the activities of bloggers and preventing discussion of sensitive topics. Reporters Without Borders state that the plan is all the more worrying as the government has a new system for monitoring blogs and websites in real time and spotting sites that are unregistered. Internet users who have gone against the Chinese authorities in the past have been given prison terms. Western software companies such as Microsoft are complicit in the government’s actions. Microsoft’s new blogging tool has been amended to prevent publication of certain controversial issues including democracy and Falun Gong. According the British IT news source The Register, Microsoft has also banned the use of the words "freedom" and "democracy" on some areas of its Chinese Internet portals, and restrictions on the names users give to their blogs have been imposed. Bloggers who try to use unsuitable terminology receive error messages informing them that they have used "forbidden speech", which they are asked to delete from the webpage. Sources:
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