CHINA INTERNET CENSORSHIP IS AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS

Introduction

Statistics have shown that the Chinese government has been filtering a range of websites that display sensitive information. Some of the websites may be political in nature; others are related to entertainment while others may be news websites. The paper shall look at the extent of this program and how it is an abuse of human rights against the people of China.

The root cause of the problem
Prior to the expansive use of the Internet, the Chinese government has always been interested in censoring the information that the population accesses. This was seen through the censorship of the print, radio and television content. The reason for this move is largely political owing to the fact that the Communist Power of China is insecure about its political position and it would therefore like to create a scenario in which the electorate are not aware of their democratic rights so as to maintain their grip on power. (Watts, 2005)

However, with the emergence of the internet, there came a new way in which people in China could express themselves directly. In line with the latter mentioned Draconian thinking, the Chinese government opted to engage in censorship of these internet websites so as to maintain power struggles. Human rights activists argue that this is fact an inhibition of the freedom of belief and the issue of democracy as it is. (Zittrain, 2006)

How censorship is conducted
The Chinese government normally resorts to a multiple mix of censorship methods to ensure that only the information they approve reaches Chinese internet users. In certain instances, the government may resort to the use of cyber police who conduct surveillance actions. In other situations, the government may resort to internet filtering technologies that may or may not be done regularly. Usually, one gets a message indicating that there is a network error or a problem with their IP. In other words, the government does not explain that it is in fact that the one responsible for censoring that site thus making it hard for the respective users.

Additionally, the government also engages in propaganda wars through the media. A number of government controlled news websites normally display information that portrays the government in a positive light. The same may be said of other websites too. (Huifeng, 2008)

It has been found that China is the only nation in the world with over tens of thousands in internet filters and special sections in their police force to deal with these censorship programs. Such bodies include the Ministry of Information Industry, the Internet Bureau and Bureau of information and public opinion, the internet propaganda administrative bureau and the Ministry of Public Security and Computer monitoring and supervision bureau. (Crater, 2008)

The government of the People’s Republic of China has shown that they require self censorship by new websites or else those latter groups face the danger of being banned. This is usually seen through notifications by this respective group. Additionally, the latter government also carries out crackdowns on any persons who may be deemed as internet activists. (Zinn & Barr, 2007) For instance, in the year 2008, Liu Shaokun had been arrested and was to serve a period of one year in jail because the government claimed that he had been inciting disturbances. This serious state of government inference in the freedoms and rights of the Chinese is also seen through the process of locking up data centers. Here, consumers are not allowed to enter them, add new hardware operations may be prevented. In other words, internet censorship is something that may require the time and efforts of many other groups. (Marquand, 2006)

Conclusion
China has one of the most extensive internet blocking sites in the world thus being known as the great firewall. Because of these activities, the government of China is infringing against the rights of the Chinese people to freely express themselves and to be informed.

References

Watts, J. (2005): China’s Internet police target critics using be propaganda; the Guardian , 14th June
Marquand, R. (2006): China’s media censorship; Christian Science Monitor
Zittrain, J. (2006): Empirical Analysis of internet filtering in China, retrieved from http://www.cyber.law.harvard.edu/ accessed on 7th Jan 2008
Huifeng, H. (2008): Mainland starts latest internet crackdown, retrieved from http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/ accessed on 7th Jan 2008
Crater, T. (2008): The Chinese Internet Crash; Calamity or Capitalism, retrieved from http://www.tomcarter.newsvine.com/ accessed on 7th Jan 2008
Zinn, C. & Barr, B. (2007): Internet black holes in China, The New York Times, 6th May

The author of this article is a holder of Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard University and currently pursing PhD Program. He is also a professional academic writer. ResearchPapers247.Com>