HOW HWEE YOUNG / EFE
Several people use computers in an Internet cafe to connect to the Internet in Beijing, thus avoiding using your IP code.
MArts, 14 JULY OF 2015 – 14.00 H
Kilometers from Spain navigate Internet, something that has become so routine and simple for most is complicates increasingly in China; a country labeled as one of the technological giants, more than 650 millions of Internet users and where important international companies operate.
While on the front pages of the newspapers thecyberespionage –and including the cyberwar for the most alarmist– and the management or rather surveillance, that the governments of the so-called first world want to exert on their neighbors and fellow citizens is extrapolated much further in the asian giant. In recent years, more if possible in recent months, the president's government Xi Jingping has increased the control that exerts on the social networks since in the year 2009 the regime imposed the prohibition about the giant Facebook after the conflicts in Xinjiang, a censorship in every rule that not even the approach of its founder –Mark Zuckerberg– was able to solve despite going so far as to recommend that his employees read 'Governance and administration in China' a book that collects speeches and interviews of the president .
In the most populated country in the world, social networks like Facebook,Youtube o Twitter are subject to control; only a few Internet users access them through VPN servers (virtual private network) a private virtual network which allows them to hide theIP address and navigate as if they were doing it from another country.
This weekend, has been the british channel bbc who has brought to light again the existing problems around the coined as the 'Great Cyberwall', the sophisticated computer system managed by thousands of police security guards and programmers, to filter and control portals of what authorities determine as “politically sensitive” content. BBC Trendings remembers how a couple of years ago on the Chinese equivalent of Twitter –Sina Weibo– countless reviews could be read daily, stories and rumors of political scandal that are now barely found.
To a greater extent it was corruption allegations that were uncovered and traveling through the web, many of them on Sina Weibo, after in the summer of 2012 the particular case of a government official who was convicted and taken to jail came to light as a result of the criticism and evidence that was collected with what could be considered community action by citizens. After this particular incident until mid 2013 and according to the independent evaluation from the Australian journalist Angus Grigg del Australian Financial Review, China correspondent, the complaints went from 104 a 299; an increase that turned around 2014 where they barely reached 51.
In the article 'Has China silenced its bloggers?', the BBC network points out that it could be the law introduced in 2013 To prevent this spread of “rumors” online the cause of this forgetfulnessclaim of the citizens, threatened with facing up to three years in prison if your messages were shared more than 500 times on Sina Weibo, unlike in Spain, whose general tendency is to try to make our message reach the greatest possible diffusionpossible ern a moment where the political tension and the citizen movements they grow by the moment, In China the government has managed to be stronger with the most traditional strategy: the self-censorship.
This was confirmed to the same medium by the journalist and blogger based in Beijing. Tommy Wen, who has seen his Sino Weibo account closed dozens of times without the authorities contacting him or giving him reasons. Wen suspects that in his case the reason for 'censorship'’ were the messages about the Dalai Lama and the Tiananmen Square, issues directly related to those who criticize the authoritarian regime in Beijing, They demand the independence of Tibet or denounce the abuses against the outlawed cult 'Falun Gong' to which these days we could add the conflicts related to the minority of uigures. Temas diana para la 'Gran Cibermuralla'.
CELEBRITIES ALSO SILENCED
Another bit of evidence anecdotal, point the chain, is the effect it has had on the new generation of bloggers “superstar” many of them fiercely critics with the authorities who have taken an unexpected turn in their customs and have suddenly lost their weakness for controversy. One of the most scathing against the government would be the multifaceted novelist He He known for his skepticism and his sharp line against the Chinese Government, even calling it a “hypocrite.”” and highlighting what he considered his country's environmental abuses, directly and no holds barred. A singular case since progressively the detractionsThey became calmer and now they are themes ‘soft’, neutral, and his dogs who occupy his personal wall.
Although in the case of Han it seems that it is still not entirely clear whether or not the government interposed direct pressure, Another important blogger who has also moderated his speech is Charles Xue –followed by more than 12 millions of Internet users– who did have to see themselves in thecourts and had to admit from prison to Chinese television that he had been broadcasting “irresponsible” messages”through their networks; considered by many one of the worstabuse of repression on the Internet by the authorities.
On the contrary, Other bloggers have risen to fame and beenrecognized oficialmente por el Presidente Jingping como "ejemplos ha seguir" precisely for praising the efforts and daily course of the executive's political activity, such as the case of Hua Qianfang, a farmer from 36 years converted into one of the most influential bloggers in the country, que ha llegado a sikucutar a reconocidas figuras del mundo del arte y la literatura que "sirvan a los fines del socialismo y no sean esclavos de los mercados", he said at an official event last October. An example of those on the other side of the shore, en el bando "lícito" or as the digital newspaper El Confidencial says, who from their networks carry out citizen journalism at the service of the proletariat.
BARRIERS TO PROGRESS
And abuse that has become reported not only by Internet users but also by prominent personalities of Europa and USA who fear that their ability to do business in China could be significantly compromised, according to newspapers such as The Washington Post. A control that therefore transcends Chinese users and has come to be put on the table also in the European Chamber of Commerce where last year the enormous amount offilters on legal content that prevent fluidity in theinformation traffic and the excessive control over emails which, on the other hand, has also been denounced by important researchers and professionals of various kinds as a barrier to innovation and the trafficking of ideas..
Waiting for a new national security law –which has already been criticized by the HIM– for its “extraordinarily broad” scope” no parece probable que de momento pueda verse un resurgimiento de los bloggers críticos en ese país ni una transigencia de la 'Gran Cibermuralla', an issue on which the authorities remain strictly silent. BBC Trending, like many others, He has tried to contact the government but has not yet received a response..
