China’s notoriously restrictive internet has today become just a little freer after government censors abruptly loosened their control of sensitive search terms such as Communist party leaders, even going so far as to sanction criticism.
Previously Chinese visitors to Sina Weibo, a Far East take on Twitter, who attempted to find information regarding their president, Hu Jintao, or his successor, Xi Jinping, were presented with curt message: ‘According to related laws and regulations, search results are not shown.’
Now not only can they browse details on their leaders but they are also free to pen criticism – for now at least.
Tweeters lost no time in exercising their new found freedom with one branding Xi a ‘hypocrite’ for proclaiming that Communist party officials shouldn’t enter politics for wealth or prestige whilst another accused the government of an Aids cover up.
China’s new found appreciation of free speech only stretches so far however, the Dalai Lama, Falun Gong and Tiananmen Square all remain on the blocked list whilst China’s largest search engine, Baidu, also continues to block sensitive information.