The ****trait of a Rogue "Olympic Host" -- China Blocks YouTube Over
Tibet Videos/AP
March 16, 2008
China Blocks YouTube Over Tibet Videos
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 10:08 a.m. ET
BEIJING (AP) -- Internet users in China were blocked from seeing
YouTube.com on Sunday after dozens of videos about protests in Tibet
appeared on the popular U.S. video Web site.
The blocking added to the communist government's efforts to control what
the public saw and heard about protests that erupted Friday in the
Tibetan capital, Lhasa, against Chinese rule.
Access to YouTube.com, usually readily available in China, was blocked
after videos appeared on the site Saturday showing foreign news re****ts
about the Lhasa demonstrations, montages of photos and scenes from
Tibet-related protests abroad.
There were no protest scenes posted on China-based video Web sites such
as 56.com, youku.com and tudou.com.
The Chinese government has not commented on its move to prevent access
to YouTube. Internet users trying to call up the Web site were presented
with a blank screen.
Chinese leaders encourage Internet use for education and business but
use online filters to block access to material considered subversive or
****ographic.
Foreign Web sites run by news organizations and human rights groups are
regularly blocked if they carry sensitive information. Operators of
China-based online bulletin boards are required to monitor their content
and enforce censor****p.
China has at least 210 million Internet users, according to the
government, and is expected to overtake the United States soon to have
the biggest population of Web surfers.
Beijing tightened controls on online video with rules that took effect
Jan. 30 and limited video-sharing to state-owned companies.
Regulators backtracked a week later, apparently worried they might
disrupt a growing industry, and said private companies that were already
operating legally could continue. They said any new competitors will be
bound by the more stringent restrictions.
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On the Net:
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