Amnesty International Website Banned in China

The Chinese government has banned the Amnesty International Website, even for journalists covering the Olympic Games.

According to Executive Director Larry Cox, "... we've learned that a day after Amnesty International issued a comprehensive report on how the Chinese government was failing to live up to its promises on human rights, the Chinese government shut down access to our web site - even for foreign reporters in Beijing to cover the Olympics.

Internet censorship for the people of China is nothing new, but the Olympics were supposed to be different. When China bid for the Olympics in 2001, it declared that it would "give the media complete freedom to report when they come to China" if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected Beijing to host the Games."

Is anyone surprised by this?

Comments: 9

Debra C. Jul 31, 2008, 8:55pm EDT

I mentioned it in my article a couple days ago. The NewHour is talking about this as I write this.

China has censored this site and many more all along. There are other "free" countries that have national proxys, including Canada, Denmark, Australia, etc. There is some tracking and blocking in the US as well.

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Brian S. Jul 31, 2008, 9:11pm EDT

What website isn't banned in China? I read something too about how they are even doing things to trick people into thinking that they are even more watched on the net than they really are. Even with the censorship and the blocking of so many sites and words, people still get through to things China doesn't like, and so they are trying to scare even the people that they can't catch.

Hopefully everyone in china starts using Tor or other proxies and scramblers that don't allow for that type of thing to stop people getting the information that they need.

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A. F. Stewart Jul 31, 2008, 10:02pm EDT

They are trying to make all the hotels install internet spyware as well, so I'm not surprised.

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Kerrell g. Jul 31, 2008, 11:55pm EDT

That's what I heard, too, A.F. The world will be watching the Chinese VERY closely over the next month.

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sheila ~the hapless housewife~ j. Aug 1, 2008, 1:33pm EDT

I'm not surprised!

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Rhetta A. Aug 1, 2008, 5:02pm EDT

So "give the media complete freedom to report" means even less to them than our freedom of the press does to us.

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Diane "stormyz" B. Aug 2, 2008, 2:38am EDT

Here's a 10 for you!! Thank you for posting this to the Gimme 10!!! Group

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Brian M. Aug 7, 2008, 8:09am EDT

Thanks for posting at Scores 4 Everyone.

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Donna M. Aug 18, 2008, 2:42pm EDT

Excellent article...I find it appalling that we as a Freedom Nation, and any other one for that matter - can sit back - look the other way - and allow the cash registers to go ka ching ka ching - As long as any of the Freedom nations allow manufacturing and financial support activity in ANY way this will not be resolved...it is a disgrace to all that is human...their recent profile of the Pretty Little girl lip singing their National anthem says it loud and clear...

I laughed when some of "our" media interviewed people on the street and in their government, to express their opinions about why it was totally acceptable....RIGHT - like they are going to say "No - it was not right - it was misleading"...they know what they have to say to survive...I just think its a shame the Free countries continue to allow any financial corporate support...thats the travesty!

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Amnesty International Website Banned in China

Comments: 9

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