MCLC: Another crackdown on online expression

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MCLC LIST
Another crackdown on online expression
Source: Sup China (11/14/18)
The National Internet Information Office of China, the country’s top cyber authority, has launched yet another crackdown against online expression, with “self-media,” blogs, and microblogs squarely in the crosshairs.
More than 9,800 blogging accounts have been erased from the internet since the campaign started on October 20, according to a statement (in Chinese) from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
Reasons include spreading “politically harmful information” (政治有害信息 zhèngzhì yǒuhài xìnxī), creating rumors that disrupt the normal social order, and circulating vulgar content that has a negative impact on teenagers. “The chaotic nature of these self-media accounts seriously trampled on the dignity of laws and regulations, harmed the interests of the people, shaped online public opinion in a negative way, and caused strong backlash from the society,” the statement reads.
The move comes after a series of commentary articles published by the People’s Daily in October, which criticized bloggers, also known as self-media practitioners, for writing clickbait, spreading rumors to mislead the public, and being driven solely by profit. The Party's house newspaper also urged authorities to introduce more laws and regulations to restore order in the space of online information. (All links in Chinese).
In August 2017, China initiated investigations into top social media sites, including WeChat and Weibo, claiming that they failed to comply with cyber laws. One month later, the cyberspace authorities moved to monitor conversations on WeChat more closely, which prompted many users to impose self-censorship by deleting chat groups.
This round of censorship seems to be focused on social media accounts about current affairs, and many of the victims were critical or discussed “sensitive” issues.
However, the purge surprised many by eradicating the official WeChat account of Guancha.cn 观察者网, a pro-government news site associated with Eric X. Li (李世默 Lǐ Shìmò), the silver-tongued venture capitalist who writes op-eds in American newspapers defending China's leadership.
The No. 1 Sentry (一号哨位 yīhào shàowèi), a veteran-initiated military blog that was once praised (in Chinese) by the People’s Liberation Army Daily for its unique perspective and excellent writing, was also shut down for unknown reasons.
—Chauncey Jung
by denton.2 at osu.edu on November 15, 2018
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