China's leaders launch new attack on internet free speech

The Blog Herald says Chinese bloggers are about to face another wave of Government sanctions and harassment, with an announcement by the Chinese Government of a new crackdown against news on the internet deemed "not in the national interest."

Also, The Blog Herald points to a Sep 26 Guardian article by Benjamin Joffe-Walt in Shanghai saying:

The announcement from the Chinese Government called for blogs and personal web pages to "be directed towards serving the people and socialism and insist on correct guidance of public opinion for maintaining national and public interests".

In addition to above links - with thanks to Australian blogger Pip Wilson at Yellow Pages - is this list from Reporters Without Borders:

The 11 subjects forbidden to Chinese bloggers:

"Bloggers are banned from putting out news that:

- violates the basic principles of the Chinese constitution:
- endangers national security, leaks national secrets, seeks to overthrow the government, endangers the unification of the country;
- destroys the country's reputation and benefits;
- arouses national feelings of hatred, racism, and endangers racial unification;
- violates national policies on religion, promotes the propaganda of sects and superstition;
- diffuses rumours, endangers public order and creates social uncertainty;
- diffuses information that is pornographic, violent, terrorist or linked to gambling;
- libels or harms people's reputation, violates people's legal rights;
- includes illegal information bounded by law and administrative rules.

and the final two dictates that:
- It is forbidden to encourage illegal gatherings, strikes, etc to create public disorder;
- It is forbidden to organise activities under illegal social associations or organisations.

"Blogs that break these new rules will be shut down and those running them will have to pay a fine that could reach 30,000 yuans (aprox $3,500 USD)."
- - -

UPDATE Sep 30: See Global Voices Sep 30 - Chinese Bloggers on the New Internet Regulation.

Tags: China Chinese bloggers forbidden Blog Herald Yellow Pages free speech