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Google employees push back on censored China search engine (update)
Employees at Google are protesting the company's work on a censored search engine for China, the New York Times reports, signing a letter that calls for more transparency and questions the move's ethics. Reports of the search engine surfaced earlier this month, leaving many to wonder how the company could justify it after publicly pulling its Chinese search engine in 2010 due to the country's censorship practices. The letter, which is circulating on Google's internal communications system, has been signed by approximately 1,000 employees, according to the New York Times' sources.
China's censors have taken down 13,000 websites in 3 years
It's no secret that China is fond of censorship. Now, however, the country has divulged numbers that give a sense of that crackdown's scale. A report from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has revealed that China has either shut down or revoked licenses for more than 13,000 websites since the start of 2015, or just under 3 years ago. It had also prompted the closure of nearly 10 million internet accounts (most likely social network accounts). To no one's surprise, there's a heavy amount of spin on the reasons these sites and accounts were taken down.
China targets livestreaming in latest censorship crackdown
China just shut down livestreaming on three major media platforms -- Weibo, the news site iFeng and the video website ACFUN. China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television sent notices to the companies ordering them to cease all video and audio livestreaming, saying they were, "not in line with national audiovisual regulations and propagating negative speech."
China increases restrictions on internet news outlets
The Chinese government has been ramping up tighter control of its internet in the past year. The latest set of new restrictions released by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) adds more limitations on what news can be created and distributed by online platforms. But the biggest new rule: Every editorial staff must be approved by the national or local government internet office.
China's new cybersecurity laws are a nightmare
Privacy fans will be delighted to hear that China has passed new cybersecurity regulations that mandate the use of real names. In addition, companies who operate in the country will be forced to store their data locally, making it fair game for surveillance. Finally, businesses will be pressured into censoring content that is "prohibited," like posts promoting democracy. If that wasn't bad enough, China also requires the right to shut down products and services -- at will -- to respond to security incidents.
China tightens its censorship grip on foreign content
China is set to enact a strict new law that effectively bans foreign publishers -- even those partnered with domestic companies -- from posting any content online in the country without first obtaining permission from the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT). Text, pictures, maps, games, video, animation and virtually all audio must be submitted for approval.
