[huridocs-tech] China: Internet users at risk of arbitrary detention, torture and even execution

26 november 2002
Persbericht Amnesty International

       Amnesty International called today on the Chinese authorities to
   release all those currently detained or jailed for using the Internet to
   peacefully express their views or share information.

       "Everyone detained purely for peacefully publishing their views or
   other information on the Internet or for accessing certain websites are
   prisoners of conscience," Amnesty International said. "They should be
   released immediately and unconditionally".

       In report launched today ("People's Republic of China: State Control
   of the Internet in China" - ASA 17/007/2002), Amnesty International
   records the cases of at least 33 people who have been detained or
   imprisoned for offences related to their use of the Internet. They range
   from political activists and writers to members of unofficial
   organizations, including the Falun Gong spiritual movement.

       One of the longest sentences has been passed against a former police
   officer, Li Dawei, (see: "People's Republic of China: State control of
   the Internet in China: appeal cases" - ASA17/046/2002), who has been
   sentenced for 11 years in prison for downloading articles from Chinese
   democracy websites abroad. All his appeals have been turned down.

       Two of those detained for Internet-related offences have died in
   custody, apparently as a result of torture or ill-treatment at the hands
   of the police. Both are members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement,
   which was banned as a "heretical organization" in July 1999.

       "As the Internet industry continues to expand in China, the
   government continues to tighten controls on on-line information. These
   have included the filtering or blocking of some foreign websites, the
   creation of special Internet police, the blocking of search engines and
   actions to shut down websites which post information on corruption or
   articles critical of government," Amnesty International said.

       In late August China blocked access to the Google Internet search
   engine for a brief period, diverting users to local Chinese search
   engines instead. In recent weeks, Beijing has shifted tactics again,
   opening up some previously blocked Web sites, but making it impossible
   for users to open documents on those sites that relate to China. The
   Ministry of State Security has reportedly installed tracking devices on
   Internet service providers to monitor individual email accounts and all
   Internet cafes are required to register and inform the police about their
   customers.

       "Internet users are increasingly caught up in a tight web of rules
   restricting their fundamental human rights," Amnesty International added.
   "Anyone surfing the Internet could potentially be at risk of arbitrary
   detention and imprisonment".

       In extreme cases, individuals who publish information on the Internet
   which is considered to be a "state secret" could even be sentenced to
   death.

       The Chinese authorities have also forced Internet companies to take
   greater responsibility for policing the web. A "Public Pledge on
   Self-Discipline" was introduced in August 2002 under which signatories
   agree not to post "pernicious" information that may "jeopardise state
   security, disrupt social stability, contravene laws and spread
   superstition and obscenity". The pledge has been signed by over 300
   companies, including the popular international search engine Yahoo.

       Amnesty International urged the government to review certain
regulations and other measures restricting freedom of expression over the
Internet in order to comply with international standards.

       Amnesty International also raised concerns that some overseas
   companies have reportedly sold technology to China, which has been used
   by the Chinese authorities to censor the Internet.

       "As China's role as an economic and trading partner grows,
   multinational companies have a particular responsibility to ensure that
   their technology is not used to violate fundamental human rights,"
   Amnesty International said.


   Background

       Since the commercialisation of the Internet in China in 1995, China
   has become one of the fastest-growing Internet markets in the world. The
   number of domestic Internet users is doubling every six months and
   thousands of websites are being launched. In June 2002 the number of
   Internet users had reached almost 46 million and experts believe that
   within the next four years China is likely to become the largest Internet
   market in the world. Since 1995 more than 60 rules and regulations have
   been introduced covering the use of the Internet.

        After a fire in an Internet cafe in Beijing in June this year, the
   authorities closed thousands of Internet cafes and demanded that those
   allowed to reopen  do so only after installing filtering software to
   block Web sites considered "politically sensitive" or "reactionary". The
   software prevents access to 500,000 various foreign websites.

   The report is available at
   http://www.web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/recent/asa170072002
   and the appeal cases can be found at
   http://www.web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/recent/asa170462002




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