Web Protests Win Surprise Traction in China

Some fear official tolerance is surveillance in disguise

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 9, 2009 9:20 AM CST

(Newser) – The usually repressive Chinese government has been surprisingly tolerant of—and even responsive to—a wave of Internet petitions protesting local injustices and corruption. Online campaigns have gotten accused killers freed, officials fired, and charges dropped against a motorist who cut off his own finger to protest police entrapment, then publicized the deed. “This is the era of disguised accountability,” one professor tells the Washington Post, "holding officials accountable by relying on the Internet rather than on traditional means like elections and the checks by the Congress."

Protesters are ecstatic with the effectiveness of online actions; still, much of the Web remains tightly regulated, and some watchers aren’t so sure about the government’s motives. The Communist Party appears almost eager to allow furor over local issues and officials, perhaps as a way to keep tabs on far-flung provinces. Sure, “this Internet power has a huge influence on the government,” a human rights lawyer says. “But it's hard to tell if they are worried.”

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Customers surf the Internet at an Internet cafe in Beijing, China. (AP Photo)

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Now senior officials go to the Internet to find out what crimes are being committed by local officials. In some cases, the government wants to know the public mood, or they want to punish some local official.
- Mo Shaoping, Beijing lawyer

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COMMENTS

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cochiserocks

Nov 9, 2009 4:14 AM CST

or it could be that they're not going to get caught on the hop again and have found a way to lure potential trouble makers into building their own files for them - then should anything like Tian'anmen Square flair up - they'll have neat little arrest list along with consumer habits and what ever else their cookies have been designed to hold into. I hate to come across all cynical and jades - but I am, so that's just how it comes out. Old Chinese proverb which loosely translated turns into "Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me!" and the Chinese regime is all about efficiency in every way.

Netstorm2k10

Nov 9, 2009 3:26 AM CST

This is interesting. It could be that the leadership over there recognizes that they're in a winning position at the moment, so they can afford to be lenient. Or it could be that they recognize the value of appearing just to their people, who are becoming more internationally aware every day, thanks to the aforementioned 'Interwebs.'

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Technology • Crime & Courts • World

China • Internet • corruption • surveillance • anonymous • online activism • freedom of speech • petition

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Web Protests Win Surprise Traction in China