China: Controls tighten as Internet activism grows

China: Controls tighten as Internet activism grows

Index Number: ASA 17/001/2004
Date Published: 28 January 2004
Categories: China, Asia And The Pacific, East Asia

The expansion of Internet access in China has presented the authorities with greater challenges in their attempts to censor and control the online activities of Internet users. This report examines the growing trend towards China assigning greater responsibilities of surveillance and monitoring to companies such as Internet Cafes, Information Service Providers (ISPs) and other enterprises. It also examines the detention of a number of prisoners of conscience involved with Internet activism, in particular activism related to the dissemination of information concerning Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).