Self-Censorship in Self-Censorship in ChinaChina

Eric Schabel & Fahad PervaizEric Schabel & Fahad Pervaiz

The IssueThe Issue In order to reach a wider audience by In order to reach a wider audience by

joining in on the massive Chinese joining in on the massive Chinese market, western companies such market, western companies such Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft have Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft have opted to relax moral standards by opted to relax moral standards by voluntarily cooperating with the Chinese voluntarily cooperating with the Chinese government’s strict censorship laws—government’s strict censorship laws—many of which violate the rights to many of which violate the rights to freedom of speech and information that freedom of speech and information that are valued by cultures across the globe.are valued by cultures across the globe.

The IssueThe Issue

Human rights groups, free speech activists, Human rights groups, free speech activists, hackers, company executives, and many hackers, company executives, and many Chinese citizens have all spoken out against Chinese citizens have all spoken out against this self-censorship, especially after the this self-censorship, especially after the launch of Google.cn.launch of Google.cn.

The companies participating in self-The companies participating in self-censorship have defended their positions—censorship have defended their positions—sometimes claiming a moral imperative, sometimes claiming a moral imperative, such as utilitarianism, in order to operate in such as utilitarianism, in order to operate in the country despite the denial of basic the country despite the denial of basic freedoms with which they cooperate.freedoms with which they cooperate.

The Mechanisms of The Mechanisms of CensorshipCensorship

The Chinese government has direct control over the The Chinese government has direct control over the ISPs (Internet Service Providers) that provide ISPs (Internet Service Providers) that provide internet access within the country, meaning material internet access within the country, meaning material that it deems “sensitive” will be blocked before that it deems “sensitive” will be blocked before internet users ever have a chance to discover it.internet users ever have a chance to discover it.– Blocked sites include western media outlets and human Blocked sites include western media outlets and human

rights organizations, among many othersrights organizations, among many others The ISPs also filter email services in much the same The ISPs also filter email services in much the same

way spam is filtered, allowing them to block way spam is filtered, allowing them to block unwanted subjects from being discussed over the unwanted subjects from being discussed over the internet.internet.

Beyond the technology, however, it is the culture of Beyond the technology, however, it is the culture of fear that works most effectively to keep the web fear that works most effectively to keep the web self-censoring—people can and have gone to prison self-censoring—people can and have gone to prison for breaking China’s censorship laws.for breaking China’s censorship laws.

The Problem with Self-The Problem with Self-CensorshipCensorship

The Chinese government’s strict The Chinese government’s strict censorship laws can be easily be viewed censorship laws can be easily be viewed as a denial of basic human rights, and as a denial of basic human rights, and rightfully so, but the companies that have rightfully so, but the companies that have entered the Chinese market at the entered the Chinese market at the expense of these rights are also to blame.expense of these rights are also to blame.

By cooperating with Beijing, Google, By cooperating with Beijing, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft (among others) are Yahoo, and Microsoft (among others) are contributing to the oppression of the contributing to the oppression of the freedoms of speech and information. freedoms of speech and information.

The Problem with Self-The Problem with Self-CensorshipCensorship

At least 50 people, including journalists, are At least 50 people, including journalists, are currently imprisoned in China for writing about currently imprisoned in China for writing about “controversial” subjects on the internet. “controversial” subjects on the internet.

One unfortunate example of this is One unfortunate example of this is Shi Tao, a poet who was sentencedShi Tao, a poet who was sentenced to ten years in prison for sending an to ten years in prison for sending an email to a pro-democracy email to a pro-democracy organization.organization. The information used to prosecuteThe information used to prosecute Tao was supplied by Yahoo.Tao was supplied by Yahoo.

The Problem with Self-The Problem with Self-CensorshipCensorship

By foregoing respect for human rights, the By foregoing respect for human rights, the western companies that have access to the western companies that have access to the Chinese market are actively participating with the Chinese market are actively participating with the Chinese government’s culture of human rights Chinese government’s culture of human rights oppression and fear, even if it is indirectly.oppression and fear, even if it is indirectly.

This disrespect for humanity is the very definition This disrespect for humanity is the very definition of unethical.of unethical.

Researching Tiananmen Researching Tiananmen SquareSquare

Google.comGoogle.com

Google.cnGoogle.cn

The Other SideThe Other Side

Information for allInformation for all

The Other SideThe Other Side

China has the largest population of any country in China has the largest population of any country in the world—over 1.3 billion people.the world—over 1.3 billion people.

Some estimates claim that 150 to 200 million Some estimates claim that 150 to 200 million Chinese citizens currently use the internet Chinese citizens currently use the internet regularly—a number that rivals or surpasses U.S. regularly—a number that rivals or surpasses U.S. statistics. By 2010, this number will be at least 250 statistics. By 2010, this number will be at least 250 million.million.

Even using an Even using an outdated chart, it outdated chart, it is easy to see is easy to see that China’s that China’s presence on the presence on the net is significant net is significant and growing:and growing:

The Other SideThe Other Side Why should these people be denied access to powerful Why should these people be denied access to powerful

tools like Google?tools like Google? Yahoo and MSN have a simple response for critics, Yahoo and MSN have a simple response for critics,

maintaining that their respective companies will always maintaining that their respective companies will always respect the laws of the countries in which they work.respect the laws of the countries in which they work.

Google has gone through great lengths to express that Google has gone through great lengths to express that it is their view that having Google services available to it is their view that having Google services available to Chinese internet users, even in censored form, is best Chinese internet users, even in censored form, is best for the greater good of the Chinese people.for the greater good of the Chinese people.

By having a presence in China, By having a presence in China, Google can better help to affectGoogle can better help to affect change in Government policychange in Government policy towards censorship.towards censorship.

Google.cn: Making a Difference?

Outside of ChinaOutside of China Self-censorship is not limited to China—in Self-censorship is not limited to China—in

France, Italy, Austria, and Germany, sites France, Italy, Austria, and Germany, sites such as Google, eBay, and Amazon are such as Google, eBay, and Amazon are required to block white supremacist and required to block white supremacist and nazi-related items. nazi-related items.

Though few would argue in support of such Though few would argue in support of such material, it is still an example of self-material, it is still an example of self-censorship and the denial of freedom of censorship and the denial of freedom of information within the western world.information within the western world.

Is this form of self-censorship moreIs this form of self-censorship more acceptable?acceptable?

What is Your Take?What is Your Take? In France, one cannot buy Nazi In France, one cannot buy Nazi

paraphernalia from any merchant. paraphernalia from any merchant. eBay cooperates with this law by eBay cooperates with this law by blocking all products and users linked blocking all products and users linked to Nazism from their sites. to Nazism from their sites. – Is this form of censorship more Is this form of censorship more

acceptable than Beijing’s policy of acceptable than Beijing’s policy of blocking “sensitive” topics? Keep in blocking “sensitive” topics? Keep in mind that buying Nazi products is mind that buying Nazi products is completely legal here in the States.completely legal here in the States.

Your Take, Pt. 2Your Take, Pt. 2 Is self-censorship in China a subject Is self-censorship in China a subject

that western society should see that western society should see through a lens of cultural relativism? through a lens of cultural relativism? While very few people actually agree While very few people actually agree with what the Chinese government is with what the Chinese government is doing, is it necessary to fault doing, is it necessary to fault businesses for attempting to exist in businesses for attempting to exist in the ever-expanding Chinese market?the ever-expanding Chinese market?