Olympics Committee Admits Internet Censorship Deal With China

Some International Olympic Committee officials cut a deal to let China block sensitive websites despite promises of unrestricted access, a senior IOC official admitted on Wednesday...

...China had committed to providing media with the same freedom to report on the Games as they enjoyed at previous Olympics, but journalists have this week complained of finding access to sites deemed sensitive to its communist leadership blocked.

"I regret that it now appears BOCOG has announced that there will be limitations on website access during Games time," IOC press chief Kevan Gosper said, referring to Beijing's Olympic organizers.

"I also now understand that some IOC officials negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked on the basis they were not considered Games related," he said.

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Comments

[Counterglow]

It isn't just journalists, and it's worse than just blocking internet sites. This story summary from Slashdot.com indicates that Communist China intends to actively spy on visitors during the Olympics (and no doubt forever after, once the software is in place).

"Foreign-owned hotels in China face the prospect of 'severe retaliation' if they refuse to install government software that can spy on Internet use by hotel guests coming to watch the summer Olympic games. Republican Senator Sam Brownback produced a translated version of a document from China's Public Security Bureau that requires hotels to use the monitoring equipment. The Public Security Bureau order threatens that failure to comply could result in financial penalties, suspending access to the Internet or the loss of a license to operate a hotel in China. The policy was designed to 'ensure the smooth opening' of the Olympics, as well as 'promote the healthy and orderly development of the Internet, safeguard state security, maintain social order and protect public interests,' the translation of the one of the documents read."

Sounds to me like a worldwide boycott of hotel chains that knuckle under might be in order.

[Lion24]

Consultants to the Chinese: Cheney, Rove, Yoo and company.

[mimsnpips]

Failure to comply could lead to a stay at a reeducation camp. Is the USA far behind?

[RedForman]

Only if the Fairness Doctrine is passed.

[CaptainHowdy]

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[Mauiloa]

Ever since China opened up its society to capitalism, Western governments and businessmen have bent over backwards to please the Chinese regime--and concepts of morality and human rights be damned!

What we are seeing now are huge institutions and corporations like the International Olympic Committee and GE with its NBC division shedding crocodile tears over how the Chinese regime has reneged on all the promises it made in order to get the Olympics in the first place.

China is and has been a tyrannical, repressive and evil government doing whatever the hell they want to regardless of the concerns of the rest of the world. Sadly, the IOC and any capitalist corporation that can exploit the Olympics for its own profit will look the other way while making "official" proclamations of disappointment over the actions of the Chinese government.

The IOC should immediately demand that China live up to its promises or they will cancel this year's Olympics.

But of course they won't, because in the end, the IOC is just another profit-making institution that only pays lip service to the ideals of a worldwide community of sport and excellence.

[jaschrod]

It is really sad that the Chinese are starting to act more like the USA. You know, wire tapping, eliminating Habeas Corpus, torture, invading sovereign countries, secret prisons, Empire building, and political corruption.

[CaptainHowdy]

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[Mauiloa]

Touché and OUCH!

[NoCalDrummer]

Hmmm... isn't the IOC (along with the USOC) one of the groups that sued to make sure there was no such thing as the "Gay Olympics"? Sure, it's okay to have "Dog Olympics", "Special Olympics", "Police Olympics", and just about every other use of the word "Olympics", but God forbid that homosexuality be associated with such lofty ideals of "The Olympics".
They'd better check their history. On several fronts
. It's well documented that the ancient Greeks (at least the men) had relationships with male consorts. Greecian myths abound with stories of the gods and their fondness for pretty men. So THAT blows the fear of homosexuality out.
In addition, several on the US Olympic Committee have been known to take "favors" in order to secure a winning bid for a city to be chosen as the site for future Olympics. These "favors" include money, drugs and sexual favors. So this latest scandal is of no surprise to me.
The high road would be to pull out of the Olympics this year. But our corporate sponsors would never let that happen. So, instead, we get to see what "freedom" really IS in Mainland China. I'm also presuming that, like the last go-round, the only games the U.S. will get to see on TV will be those that we're expected to win. Otherwise, you'll have to go overseas to get the full story.

[andhakari]

"Olympic" is a trademark for an organization that sells prestige. Community big-wigs and high-rollers get to go to lots of nice parties and be seen in the right places with the right people. The atheletes are just performers, high end hired help.
Actually, I think the credibilty of the Olymics and of China are on a par. They belong with each other.

[lvdragonlady]

Personally I think the is BS
Why not allow internet access?
We should boycott them then, screw china.

[gcallaghan]

Great suggestion. I'm boycotting. I'm not going.

Never planned to but now there's a reason.

[jaschrod]

Careful, China is footing the bill for our monetary survival.I­f they stop buying our treasury bills, and call in our debt, we will sink. I suggest you be kind,and learn to speak Chinese.

[sassafra]

go ahead, let then call our debt. i dare them. in fact i triple dog dare them.
if we sink they sink now..aaaah­aaaaaaahah­ahahaaaa..­.didn't see that coming did you huh china?

[andhakari]

The drug pusher won't cut the customer off. Maybe a little squeeze to get the price up, that's all.

[CaptainHowdy]

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[Plus15]

Isn't this what the Olympics are all about? Stifling freedom around the world.
Of course there's no stomach for it, with athletes arriving in China daily, but
any freedom loving country should pull their athletes out. Our President should
cancel his appearance as many other heads of state, including our allies,
have done.

As bad as this news is, actual incidents during the games playing out under
this regressive, frightened, frightening, authoritarian communist regime, which
owns our paper, will electrify and scar our world.

[Counterglow]

Canada's Prime Minister won't be attending the opening ceremonies. I'm no fan of Stephen Harper, but he got it right on this one. Harper's stand is especially surprising, considering he's never yet missed an opportunity to suck up to George Bush. I think he's hoping to retire to Crawford, Texas.

[DMSmith]

Oh, THAT would be rich: The President of the US, the one who uses torture, spies on his citizens without warrants and holds people in prison without access to a lawyer, calling out China for stopping internet access!

That would be a powerful statement!

[Mort]

Sad, but true. The Olympics haven't been about goodwill and sportsmanship for years. China is in it for PR and propaganda. Ask the IOC how much they received in bribes and favors. For the right price they'll sell their souls.

[the964kid]

This is what happens when a country basically owns the western financial markets. Where's the leadership from the West?

[breatheslowly]

We're not the leaders anymore. They own us.

[JustADumbFireman]

Bingo! You're absolutely correct.

[sf101]

This is not a surprise. But despite this the IOC will make billions. Because they know that may people will bitch about this. But then they'll give in and watch anyway.

[SmootyBooty]

The IOC lied, bottom line. They sold their souls on the alter of the great Chinese market. F**K the communists, and F**K the Chinese. They are NOT our allies...

[trouble97018]

You can't contact the IOC but I've already notified the US Olympic Committee that due to this issue I will be turning them OFF. I can't stop them from selling out but I don't have to take part in it.

[knowhelpnow]

I'm not watching either, I will inform the US Olympic committee also. Good idea.

[AmandaBC]

Huffpo blaming someone else's censorship, now that wins the HYPOCRISY CUP hands down!!

[Amalek]

Yes!

[Amennyc]

Is HuffPo based in China?

[AKJM]

BINGO

[darthdarcy]

That's why this Olympics is an abomination and total fraud...

it's appeasement to murderers and oppressors­..

[edtastic]

If you ever experienced China's Great Firewall, you would realize it was at best annoying. The Great Firewall does block out major porn sites, and a few random items to simply annoy the user. I had no problem reading about China good news or bad. The methodology being utilized is mysterious, the results appear inconsistent, their stated goals are hardly being accomplished, the Internet blocking is a waste of time.

If our government took a slightly different tact, or it was the 1950's I am sure we would have a great firewall in America to protect children from offensive content. Most of the people "hating China" are common haters who respond to anything they dislike with a disproportionate rage with no regard or compassion for the actual people. I wonder when they will understand attacking China is an attack on the people. You need to realize the people China like their government, they like the 30 years of progress, they like hosting the Olympics, and they like being treated with respect. Most people trashing China disregard the impact on the Chinese people, they assume some how they are warriors for the noble cause of freedom, meanwhile America's defacto censorship has stifled the internal debate for decades. Freedom of speech, but corporate mass distribution of speech. We got our own problems for certian, and we really dont like our goverment. I think we need to deal with the log in our eye before the splinter in theirs.

[FaceYourFears]

Obviously China can do no wrong! They're never called out on anything.

[jukesgrrl]

That always happens when you owe someone a huge amount of money. How often do you call out your mortgage holder?

[Amennyc]

Add Israel to that list.

[Cathexis]

I've got to say, folks ...

Scolding China's censorship and Human Righst practices while the US has been on the path it has for the past eight years (and is STILL on) strikes me as a "Pot & Kettle" situation.

We need to get our own house in order before we have the moral authority to preach to others. Unless/until we do, the rest of the world will (rightly) consider us hypocrites of the highest magnitude.

And the best way to get back on the path of Integrity and ACTUAL human rights?

Impeach the ^%$#@s who directed the country down into the muck! Start honoring the flag, Constitution, and country by living up to its principles and not merely paying lip service to Democracy and Freedom. Reject torture. Reject imperialism. Reject invasion of privacy. Reject commandeering individual liberties in the name of a chimeric security. Reject fear-mongering and sabre-rattling.

Hold accountable the treasonous, unamerican ^%$#@s who have soiled our national honor!

Impeach. Impeach, now.

[ramper]

Every national team that has any sense of freedom and courage should immediately threaten a boycott. The Chinese will backtrack so fast it will help clear the smog over the Olympic stadium.

[mediamarv]

Thanks Google, for whoring freedom of Speech. Lantos was right.

[kidshare]

No, they won't

[Amalek]

Is the Huffpost still blocked in China? They had blocked it and the Obama and Democratic party sites, but left open the McCain and Republican sites.