Via Reporters without Borders -
Reporters Without Borders condemns new regulations jointly issued by the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) under which only websites that are licenced by both the MII and SARFT will be able to post videos and audio files online from 31 January.
“This is an unprecedented act of censorship,” the press freedom organisation said. “Under the pretext of developing China’s media industry, the authorities are stepping up their control of online content, especially in the runup to the Beijing Olympics. Preventing people from sharing video and audio files denies them the ability to show and describe their lives. Any censorship could now be portrayed as a legal measure.”
According to the new regulations, videos and audio files “attacking national sovereignty” will not tolerated. Content that refers to ethnicity, pornography, gambling or terrorism, incites violence, violates privacy or attacks Chinese traditions and culture is also deemed unacceptable.
“Those who provide Internet audio and video services must serve socialist ideals and the Chinese people,” the government said in a statement issued yesterday.
“In a flagrant display of hypocrisy, the state information bureau ordered the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post to withdraw an editorial published yesterday describing the measures as a way of introducing the requirement for an administrative licence,” Reporters Without Borders said. “These new rules mean that from now on only socialist video content will be allowed to circulate online.”
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