China's
biggest microblogging site Sina Weibo has introduced a new code of conduct to
encourage netizens to censor themselves. If users break the rules, they lose
their account.
China's
censors and Internet users have been playing cat and mouse for years. Each time
the authorities introduce new rules to monitor cyberspace, resourceful netizens
come up with creative ways of circumventing them.
China's
social media sites are obliged to help the censors by automatically filtering
content that could be considered subversive.
 |
| Netizens have to censor themselves |
Sino Weibo,
the People's Republic's biggest microblogging site, has just published a
stringent code of conduct which clearly outlines what content is considered
subversive. It stipulates that users cannot post information which goes against
the principles of the constitution, cannot harm national unity, disclose state
secrets or publish false information. Blogs are not allowed to spread rumors or
information that could disrupt the social order, endanger the country's ethnic
unity or jeopardize stability. Posts that call on users to protest or
disseminate superstitious teachings are banned.
What counts
as a rumor or what information might jeopardize the country's unity is subject
to interpretation.
What is
clear, however, is that any comment directed against the government can be
interpreted as breaking the code of conduct.
24/7
censorship
"Basically
these regulations are something they want to show the authorities," says
journalist and blogger Michael Anti. "They want to show that the company
is doing its censorship job. “But it's not a big move because the censorship on
Sina Weibo is already very serious."
The site
says it employs people and technology to filter information that is posted
online 24 hours a day. Members are divided internally into two categories -
"normal users" or "dangerous users."
 |
| Isaac Mao says it's hard to censor millions of people |
However,
this is apparently not enough for the censors. Last December, the government
demanded that Sina Weibo introduce rules to ensure users register with their
real names. This was supposed to happen by March, but in April the company told
shareholders it had not managed to enforce the regulation. "Although we
are supposed to do it, we have not been able to verify all our users'
identities. The Chinese government could take strict measures."
Many users
simply ignored Sina's call to register with real names. "It is difficult
to censor millions of users," says blogger Isaac Mao. "The real name
registration has failed already. They're starting to rethink their policy by
replacing it with a new one. They want the community to censor itself."
80-point
system
To do this,
Sina has introduced a point system. Each registered user - there are roughly
300 million - gets an account with 80 points that they can lose if they do not
stick to the rules. The first warning comes when there are only 60 points left.
The account is deleted if there are no more points at all.
However, if
you behave for two months and don't do anything to draw negative attention from
the censors, you can get a clean account again, with 80 points.
 |
| It is forbidden to talk about the 1989 massacre on Tiananmen Square |
Chinese
Internet users don't seem too fussed. "People don't care about these
policies," says Isaac Mao. "They just laugh about it! That's the
attitude among netizens towards political issues as well. They just
laugh."
The
netizens refuse to protest loudly, they simply get around the censor. For
example, the 4th of June - the anniversary of Tiananmen Square - has become the
35th of May as this is not so easily recognized by the filters.
In any
case, anyone determined enough to talk will manage to get through the Great
Firewall of China and find Facebook or Twitter. The cat and mouse game goes on.
Author:
Christoph Ricking / act
Editor: Gregg Benzow
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