IFLA condemns new Chinese Internet regulations
(Oct. 27, 2005)IFLA condemns new Chinese Internet regulations and Western computer
companies' participation in the crackdown on intellectual freedom
(boxun.com)
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Media release 25th October 2005
Further to the media release dated July 13, 2005, the International
Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Committee on
Free
Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (IFLA/FAIFE) condemns the
latest actions of the Government of the People's Republic of China to limit
freedom of access to information and freedom of expression on the Internet.
The Chair of the IFLA/FAIFE Committee Professor Paul Sturges says, the
continuing moves by the Chinese government to control online information
flow are an extremely worrying development that once again leaves Chinese
Internet users unable freely to seek information from a full range of
sources online in the interest of forming a balanced view. Updated
regulations introduced on the 25th September 2005 have the potential to
further stifle discussion in an online environment already under pressure
from extensive government intervention. The Chinese government is proving
itself to be resolutely committed to restricting its citizens' human rights
in the online public sphere.
Updated Internet regulations cause concern
Further to the implementation of new government regulations, it has been
reported that China's 'e-police' are now actively involved in policing
online discussions and pre-empting political actions through active
intervention in chat rooms.
The continuing restrictions imposed by the Government of the People's
Republic of China detract from the potential of Internet technology, and
restrict China's online population to a quasi Internet that effectively
only
disseminates information acceptable to the Government. Monitoring and
control of the circulation of information online undermines the ideal of
freedom of access to information and freedom of expression espoused in
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Access to
information, knowledge and lifelong learning is central to democratic
development and active participation and influence in society as well as
sustained economic development for the benefit of all sectors of society. A
variety of opinions and experiences are vital to healthy public discourse,
and therefore limiting the online voices heard in China inhibits citizens'
active participation in important global and internal discussions.
Complicity of Western companies
IFLA calls attention to the active participation of Western computer
companies in the Chinese government's actions, most notably the recent
actions by Yahoo who provided information that allegedly led to the jailing
of journalist Shi Tao for ten years. We ask that companies providing
assistance to the government consider the effects of their actions on
freedom of expression in the country. The attractions of the Chinese market
must not overshadow the rights of Chinese citizens to form and disseminate
their own opinions without fear of reprisal.
IFLA urges:
* The Government of the People's Republic of China to reconsider its
attitudes towards the country's Internet users and to permit unhampered
access to online information sources
* Companies providing information technologies and information
services in China to maintain the principles of freedom of access to
information
(boxun.com)
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