Olympic Organisers Defend Internet Censorship
China has come in for heavy criticism for blocking websites at this summer’s Olympics and not allowing ‘internet freedom’. Foreign journalists and reporters will be limited as to what websites they can access although they had been assured of uncensored internet access by the International Olympic Committee for the Games.
Organisers of the Beijing Olympics have defended their decision to block media access to certain websites during the games by insisting that the censored information is ‘illegal.’
A spokesperson said the Chinese government will not allow the spread of any information on the internet that is forbidden by law or harms national interests. She added: ‘If a few websites are difficult to browse, it’s mainly because they have spread content that is banned by the Chinese laws. The internet is regulated according to law in China, just like in other countries.’
Although it’s been found that the censored sites include those of human rights groups, Tibetan exile organizations and several foreign media outlets.
Chairman of the IOC’s press commission, Kevan Gosper said: “We negotiated [with Bocog] terms and conditions that would allow journalists access to the internet that was unimpeded and uncensored, and would allow them to report on the Games, but not necessarily on Games-related activities [or] about what else happened elsewhere in China. You are dealing with a communist country that has censorship. You are getting what they say you can have.”
The Beijing organisers have insisted though, that China will provide sufficient convenience for foreign journalists to access the internet at the games.
