The Internet with Chineses Characteristics

Whatever. If you ever need a reminder that PRC is a communist dictatorship, here it is. SARFT (The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television) just released rules for Internet video content. Since the original webpage is in Chinese, I'm relying on this translation from Global Voices Advocacy. Without a doubt this is a knee-jerk reaction to the video posted on YouTube showing Chinese security forces beating a Tibetan monk. Of course, the CCP claims the video is a lie but offers no proof, then goes ahead and blocks all access to YouTube. This is typical communist modus operandi: lie about stuff then block all dissent. Obviously, the US government lies too, but at least we get to dispute or protest.

Some of the items on the list are so vague that it allows the CCP to arbitrarily censor any content they want. This is probably already true today but I guess they want to give the impression that they're following rules, kind of like elections in North Korea.

Here are some things that will be banned from the Internet:

（二）危害国家统一、主权和领土完整的；
2. damaging to national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity;

（六）扰乱社会秩序，破坏社会稳定的；
6. disrupting social order and social stability;

（九）危害社会公德，损害民族优秀文化传统的；
9. harmful to social morale and national culture and tradition;

Item #2 pretty much eliminates discussion about Tibet and Taiwan and #6 means any protests on video is banned, kind of like in real life. Since the Chinese people are so easily "offended" according to the CCP, #9 can be used to censor anything that's remotely critical of the government.

The rules also place the burden on video hosting sites to edit or delete video content that falls within a list of 21 items. I think the list already applies to TV broadcasts so these rules will make the Internet as boring as CCTV broadcasts. Some of my favorites [with comments]:

2. deliberately ridiculing revolution leaders, heroic figures, significant historical figures, prominent figures inside and outside China;
[So I can't call Mao crazy? What about CCP's non-stop Dalai Lama name calling?]

3. maliciously ridiculing people's army, armed police, police, and judicial bodies; contents that show physical abuse and torturing of prisoners and criminals;
["We don't torture people, but if you have a video of us doing it, you can't show it."]

5. advocating religious extremism, creating conflicts among different religions, sects, believers and non-believers that hurt people's feeling;
[No hurt feelings allowed in harmonious Chinese society! I thought China was officially atheist so why would they care?]

6. promoting fortune telling, fung-shui, exorcism treatment and other superstitious acts;
[So why did they choose to start the Olympics on 8/8/08 at 8:08pm? Was that not superstitious?]

10. deliberately exhibiting private parts of human bodies that covered up by body parts or small objects;
[No Western TV shows then...]

11. inducing sexual fantasy;
[This one is crazy. How do I know what will induce sexual fantasy for some wacko on the Internet?]

15. excessive horrible image, subtitle, background music and sound effects;
[Horrible background music and sound effects? Isn't that more about taste? I think Chinese opera sounds horrible, should that be banned?]

17. violating individual privacy;
[No more human flesh search engines... how convenient for corrupt government officials.]

I wonder if the CCP wil have to block all non-China based video sites since people can simply continue to post to YouTube. Also, the last item on the list says, "violating the principle of relevant laws and regulations." Does that include copyright laws? If so, then all unauthorized uploads of Western TV shows, Korean dramas, or music videos will have to be deleted.