[huridocs-tech ] The 11 commandments of the Internet in China

Press release
Reporters sans frontičres
 
26 September 2005 -- "You shall not spread rumours", "You shall not damage
state security”, “You shall not destroy the country’s reputation”. There
are just three of the 11 commandments ordered by Beijing, on 25 September,
aimed at bloggers and websites managers.

Reporters Without Borders expressed concern at this latest turn of the
screw in an ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression.

"The Chinese authorities never seem to let up on their desire to regulate
the Web and their determination to control information available on it
ever more tightly,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said.

“These new rules, announced with a fanfare by the official media, are
certainly more intended to frighten Internet-users than to codify the use
of the Net,” it said. “In fact there is nothing really new in these 11
commandments, which simply repeat that the party has the monopoly of the
dissemination of information and that the media’s task is not to be
objective but to relay state propaganda.

“These moves to filter the Internet are nevertheless a sign that the
Internet frightens those in power, in particular during a period of ever
greater social unrest. It’s noticeable that the only new elements in the
text relate to banning the calling of strikes or gatherings though the
Net,” it said.

The new rules, ordered by the state council information bureau and
ministry of industry and information, are aimed at bringing into line all
previous such edicts. According to the Chinese daily Beijing news
(thebeijingnews.com), it contains 11 subjects forbidden to online editors.

They are banned from putting out news that : 
- violates the basic principles of the Chinese constitution : 
- endangers national security, leaks national secrets, seeks to
overthrow the government, endangers the unification of the country ; 
- destroys the country’s reputation and benefits ; 
- arouses national feelings of hatred, racism, and endangers racial
unification ; 
- violates national policies on religion, promotes the propaganda of
sects and superstition ; [Reporters Without Borders note : More than
30 members of the spiritual Falungong movement are currently behind
bars for posting news on the Internet] 
- diffuses rumours, endangers public order and creates social
uncertainty ; 
- diffuses information that is pornographic, violent, terrorist or
linked to gambling ; 
- libels or harms people’s reputation, violates people’s legal rights
; 
- includes illegal information bounded by law and administrative
rules.

Two completely new bans have been added to the nine rules above : 
- It is forbidden to encourage illegal gatherings, strikes, etc to
create public disorder ; 
- It is forbidden to organise activities under illegal social
associations or organisations.

Websites that break these new rules will be shut down and those running
them will have to pay a fine that could reach 30,000 yuans (3,000 euros).

Reporters Without Borders points out that 62 people are currently
imprisoned in China for having posted articles on the Internet that the
authorities deemed to be “subversive”.

 

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