Will Great Firewall of China crumble during Beijing Olympics?

Davey Winder
Saturday, 21 June 2008 01:00

Business IT - Networking

The EU's Commissioner for Information Society and Media has labelled China's censorship of the Internet as unacceptable. The International Olympic Committee, meanwhile, maintains it is confident that China will deliver on promises for free reporting during the games. Can the Great Firewall withstand the intense media scrutiny?

A high flying European Union Commissioner has lambasted China for curtailing freedom of expression on the Internet. Viviane Reding, the top EU telecoms chief, has been visiting Singapore to launch a centre to create better awareness of European Union affairs.

Choosing her words carefully she said that it was "absolutely unacceptable" for China to block Internet sites because of their political persuasion. The EU commissioner added that the Beijing Olympics were a great opportunity for China to show a commitment to allowing freedom of online information.

The Committee to Protect Journalists is not so optimistic. It has published a report, Falling Short: Olympic Promises Go Unfulfilled As China Falters On Press Freedom , which claims the country has quite simply failed to meet Olympic promises to provide media freedom.

The CJP states that "The International Olympic Committee awarded the 2008 Games to the Chinese capital based on assurances that authorities would allow the media “complete freedom,” and that they would apply “no restrictions” to coverage. The government did ease restrictions on foreign journalists in January 2007—but failed to adhere to the liberalized rules during March unrest involving Tibet. Chinese journalists are in jail. Vast censorship rules are in place. Harassment, attacks, and threats occur with impunity."

The Committee to Protect Journalists notes that special liberalised reporting rules, known colloquially as the Olympic Regulations, are set to expire in October 2008. However, these rules seem fairly ineffective even before the games have begun.