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IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China
« on: 2008-07-30 16:53:17 » |
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MSNBC.com
IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China
Agreement reached on basis that blocked sites are not Games related
MSNBC News Services
updated 10:31 a.m. CT, Wed., July. 30, 2008
BEIJING - Some International Olympic Committee officials cut a deal to let China block sensitive Web sites despite promises of unrestricted access, a senior IOC official admitted on Wednesday.
Persistent pollution fears and China's concerns about security in Tibet also remained problems for organizers nine days before the Games begin.
China had committed to providing media with the same freedom to report on the Games as they enjoyed at previous Olympics, but journalists have this week complained of finding access to sites deemed sensitive to its communist leadership blocked.
"I regret that it now appears BOCOG has announced that there will be limitations on Web site access during Games time," IOC press chief Kevan Gosper said, referring to Beijing's Olympic organizers.
"I also now understand that some IOC officials negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked on the basis they were not considered Games related," he said.
Attempts at the main press center to access the Web site of Amnesty International, which released a report on Monday slamming China for failing to honor its Olympic human rights pledges, continued to prove fruitless by mid-week.
Other Web sites, including those relating to the banned spiritual group Falun Gong, are also inaccessible.
Beijing organizers said censorship would not stop journalists doing their jobs in reporting the Games.
"We are going to do our best to facilitate the foreign media to do their reporting work through the Internet," BOCOG spokesman Sun Weide told a news conference.
"I would remind you that Falun Gong is an evil, fake religion which has been banned by the Chinese government."
Reporters without Borders, a Paris-based media watchdog, said it was increasingly concerned that there would be many cases of censorship during the Olympics.
"We condemn the IOC's failure to do anything about this, and we are more skeptical about its ability to ensure that the media are able to report freely," the group said in a statement.
Skirting censorship
To combat the issue, Reporters Without Borders is encouraging journalists covering the Beijing Olympics to skirt censorship with tips on how to get around firewalls, lock computer files and find safe translators.
In a guide published on the Internet Wednesday, the Paris-based organization advised reporters Wednesday to conduct phone calls and write e-mails with the knowledge that they may be monitored.
China has backed away from a promise to lift all Internet blocks on foreign media.
The new guide will likely help only journalists who have not yet left for Beijing: The press freedom group says its Web site, http://www.rsf.org, remains blocked in China. The guide is available at http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=27991 .
Chinese officials assured news organizations "complete freedom to report" when bidding for the games seven years ago. The International Olympic Committee received further such assurances in April. But Kevan Gosper, a senior member of the IOC, said this week that the promise will apply only to sites related to "Olympic competitions."
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© 2008 MSNBC Interactive
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25932817/
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