Category Archives: Censorship

Key findings

On October 27, 2023, Li Keqiang, the former Premier of China, passed away due to a heart attack. His death invited commentators to compare Lis legacy to that of Xi Jinping, while in China public memorials for Li were alternately permitted and restricted. This report documents our discovery of Li Keqiang-related censorship rules on multiple Chinese platforms introduced in light of Lis death. We found censorship rules relating to speculation over Lis cause of death, aspirations wishing Xi had alternatively died, memorials of Lis death, recognition of Lis already diminished status in the party, and commentary on how Lis death cements Xis political status.

Li Keqiang (19552023) served as the Party Secretary of the provinces of Henan and later Liaoning before being appointed Vice Premier under former General Secretary Hu Jintao in 2007. Following Xi Jinping taking office as General Secretary in 2012, Li was promoted to Premier, a role he held from 2013 to 2023. With a PhD in economics from Peking University, some saw Li as a technocrat and a moderate voice within an otherwise conservative Xi administration. Over his ten years in office, Lis power was circumscribed as Xi removed allies of Jiang Zemin and members of Hu Jintaos Youth League faction and filled the government with loyalists. The replacement of Li Keqiang with former Shanghai Party Secretary and Xi ally Li Qiang at the 20th National Congress in 2023 signaled to some the end of collective leadership under Xis personalistic rule. Following Lis death, obituaries published outside China referred to Li as less influential than his immediate predecessors and the least powerful premier in the history of the Peoples Republic of China.

Following Lis passing on October 27, Xi Jinping and other senior leaders attended Lis funeral at Beijings Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery. While Peoples Daily eulogized Li as a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, Lis death came during a period of growing malaise within China. Xi has deepened personal control over the Communist Party of China (CPC) during his third term in office, and high youth unemployment and a declining property sector have contributed to public concern about Chinas economy. Against this backdrop of tightened political control and economic uncertainty, many in China remembered Li as a pragmatic economic planner with a human touch.

In the past, the death of prominent figures like Li Keqiang have provided Chinese people with opportunities for protest and dissent. The death of Premier Zhou Enlai led to a million people gathering in Beijings Tiananmen Square in April 1976 to mark his passing and obliquely criticize Mao Zedong and the Gang of Four. In April 1989, public mourning in Tiananmen for former General Secretary Hu Yaobang grew into a larger protest movement demanding political, economic, and social reform. In February 2020, the death of COVID-19 whistleblower Dr. Li Wenliang produced an outpouring of anger online against authorities who had admonished Dr. Li for spreading false information about the emergence of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan.

Given the potential for public grieving to escalate into political activism, the Chinese government has attempted to manage citizens responses to Li Keqiangs passing. Authorities have closely monitored spontaneous memorials in Lis hometown of Hefei in Anhui Province and universities across China have warned students against gathering to pay respects to the former premier. Controls on public mourning have extended online. State censorship instructions cautioned media platforms against permitting overly effusive comments about Lis death, a potential reference to the satirical use of high-level black praise to mask political criticism. The National Radio and Television Administrations Online Media Department issued similar instructions to online media platforms to promote an affectionate and orderly response to former General Secretary Jiang Zemins death in November 2022. Despite these controls, Chinese social media users have found creative ways to memorialize Li Keqiang, including visiting the late Dr. Li Wenliangs Weibo page to offer condolences for another truth-teller with the surname Li.

In previous work, we designed an ongoing experiment to automatically test for changes in the automated censorship of search queries across seven Internet platforms operating in China: Baidu, Baidu Zhidao, Bilibili, Microsoft Bing, Jingdong, Sogou, and Weibo. To perform this testing, we automatically pull the text of recent news articles from the web, testing these texts on each platform for whether they are censored when searched for and, if so, isolating the exact keyword or combination of keywords in that text that is triggering its censorship. We call the triggering keyword or keywords the censored keyword combination. We found that the presence of some keyword combinations in search queries triggers hard censorship, i.e., the censorship of all results, whereas the presence of other keyboard combinations triggers soft censorship, i.e., the censorship of results from all but whitelisted sources. For web search engines like Baidu or Bing, soft censorship restricts results to only Chinese government websites or state media, whereas for a social media site like Weibo, soft censorship restricts results to being only from those accounts with a sufficient level of verification. Whenever we discover a new censored keyword combination, we record it, the platform on which it was censored, the date and time of discovery, as well as whether it was hard- or soft-censored. For the full details of our methodology, please see our previous work. Our data collection began January 1, 2023, and is ongoing as of the time of this writing.

In this work, we analyze keyword combinations discovered since the announcement of Li Keqiangs death. Specifically, we look at those introduced in a period from midnight October 27 to 5pm October 31, 2023, UTC.

Following Li Keqiangs death on October 27, we found a significant uptick in censorship surrounding Li on most platforms that we monitor. This finding is notable as Lis name was, similar to other senior CPC leaders, already broadly censored on most platforms before his death. For example, Baidu, Bing, and Weibo already broadly soft-censored any search query containing Lis given name, (Keqiang), and Jingdong hard-censored and Sogou soft-censored his full name (Li Keqiang). Therefore, new censorship rules that we discovered on these platforms were necessarily either even broader than the existing rules or targeted content that managed to avoid mentioning, depending on the platforms pre-existing rules, either Lis given or full name.

Below we highlight and categorize many of the new censorship rules that we discovered. While in many cases we can say confidently that the rules were added since Lis passing, since there would be no reason for them to have been censored before, in other cases, it is also possible that we may be unearthing old rules that we had not previously discovered due to never having previously tested content that triggers them.

Much of the censored content concerned Lis cause of death or implicated Xi in Lis death. For instance, Sogou soft-censored + (Keqiang + cause of death), + (prime minister + cause of death), and + (Keqiang + harmed), which concern the cause of Lis death and whether he was killed. Sogous soft censorship of + (General Secretary Xi + get rid of) and Weibos hard censorship of + (Jinping + assassination) target discussion suggesting that Xi had Li killed, although those rules would equally censor conversation calling for Xi to be killed, and therefore we cannot exactly know the rules original motivation.

While much of the censorship targeted the implication of Xi in Lis death, other censorship targeted communication wishing that it were Xi instead of Li who passed. Some censorship targeted direct wishes for Xi to die. For instance, Sogou simply soft-censored (die Xi). Baidu conversely hard-censored + (Xi Jinping + pray Xi dies). While the character literally means jade, its radicals when decomposed form (Xi Xi die) and can therefore be understood as a way to call for Xis death while trying to avoid censorship filters.

Other censorship rules did not target Xi by name, but nevertheless the intention of these rules is understood. For example, Weibo soft-censored (the one who should die isnt dead) as well as (good people dont live long). Many platforms also have censorship rules targeting references to (unfortunately not you), which is also the name of a popular song by Malaysian singer Fish Leong. Weibo soft-censored all references to the song, whereas Sogou only soft-censored search queries if the songs name occurred in the presence of other, related words: + (Keqiang + unfortunately not you), + (why is it so sensitive + unfortunately not you), and + (unfortunately not you + censored). The last two are significant in that content moderators are censoring queries by users attempting to ascertain why the name of the song is censored. Following the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022, some social media users had also previously used the title of the song to obliquely refer to Xi.

Many place names and references to in-person memorials for Li were censored in response to his death. Weibo soft-censored (Shuguang Hospital) and Sogou soft-censored + (Keqiang + Shuguang Hospital), referring to the hospital in Shanghai in which Li reportedly passed. It is not clear why the name of the hospital would be particularly sensitive. Content moderators may have interpreted queries about the hospital as attempts to ascertain other information about the cause of Lis death, or authorities may have been concerned that the hospital could become a potential place for a memorial. Following the death of Jiang Zemin in November 2022, police reportedly assembled outside the hospital in which the former general secretary had been receiving care.

Other rules targeted memorializing Li. For instance, Sogou soft-censored + (campus + collective mourning). As discussed in the Background section, in the past, collective mourning has provided Chinese citizens with an opportunity to criticize the state. Chinese authorities at the national and subnational level adopt different strategies in response to mass protest, including suppressing dissent and offering concessions. Chinese citizens have continued to engage in public dissent under the Xi administration, despite strong controls on collective action.

Sogou also soft-censored + + (sincerity + tolerance + kindness), targeting a quote from a letter Li wrote in 1982 to a graduate of Peking University: Some people never win with force, but they move people with sincerity, tolerance, and kindness. In fact, these are the real strong people in life. The motivation for censoring this quote could be concerns that Lis words could be interpreted as hinting at Xi, whose conservative leadership is known for broad social controls, strongman rule, and an anti-corruption campaign that has doubled as a purge of his political opponents. Similarly, Weibo soft-censored the aphorism + (what people do + Heaven sees). Because this aphorism is commonly understood to mean that the deeds of both good and bad people will be known, content moderators may interpret the saying as indirectly praising Li and criticizing Xi.

Some of the censorship highlighted Lis already diminished status in the Party even before his death. Baidu hard-censored + (weak prime minister + Xi Jinping), a direct reference to Xi Jinpings reduction of the authority of the office of prime minister during Lis tenure. Sogou soft-censored queries containing + (figurehead + prime minister), another reference to Lis restricted authority as prime minister.

While some censorship targeted queries concerning Lis former status, other censorship targeted how Lis death relates to Xis status as Chinas paramount leader. As an example, Baidu hard-censored + (Xi Jinping + centralization of power), a reference to Xis personalistic rule. Some censorship made reference to Xi as an emperor. As examples, Weibo hard-censored (reigning emperor) and soft-censored (your majesty), the former term being one which prior to Lis death had been used to refer to Xi.

More generally, Sogou soft-censored + (general election + chairman). Although we had already discovered the simplified Chinese version of the rule prior to Lis death, we only discovered the one made up of traditional Chinese characters after. The general secretary of the CPC, the senior most role in the party-state, is not directly elected but is instead elected by the Central Committee. While the Chinese government has promoted whole process democracy as an alternative to liberal democracy, discussion of competitive elections for senior leaders is politically sensitive in China. Sogou also soft-censored + (no change to the CPCs general direction + there will be no way out), a reference to an interview with former Central Party School professor and exiled dissident Cai Xia on the future of China.

As part of our ongoing project monitoring changes to Chinese search censorship across seven Internet platforms, we tracked changes to censorship following Li Keqiangs death. Motivations behind censorship were complex and seemingly paradoxical, as terms both criticizing and memorializing Li were targeted. In China, criticism of senior leaders is prone to censorship. At the same time, out of a general motivation to prevent mass movement and because some senior leaders may be seen as potential rivals to Xi, censors restrict memorializing senior leaders, especially if doing so appears to challenge the legitimacy of Xis rule. Most censorship we discovered was soft censorship, indicating that the censors did not desire to block all results for search queries concerning Li but rather direct users to state-approved content. The hard censorship we documented was often targeting content unconvertible to approved content, such as content calling for Xis death or content implicating Xi in an assassination of Li. Despite monitoring Microsoft Bing, the only non-Chinese-operated platform featured in our study, we did not discover any new notable rules relating to Li on this platform. However, our previous work noted that Bings rules were the most broad and thus were the least reliant on requiring a large number of highly specific rules to capture sensitive queries. This observation may provide an explanation for why we found no notable rules introduced on Bing in the aftermath of Lis death.

Our results demonstrate Chinas ongoing efforts to push CPC-sanctioned narratives concerning politically sensitive topics. Suppressing natural search results on the web and social media when searching for content concerning Lis death presents a distorted narrative for users attempting to discover information pertaining to Li and the CPC more broadly, impacting the integrity of the online information environment.

This work builds on our greater effort to automatically track real-time censorship in response to significant political events in China, including Tibetan Buddhist events, the 709 Crackdown on legal practitioners, the death of Nobel Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, and the initial outbreak of COVID-19 as well as its continuing spread across the globe. Our work makes use of novel automated methods which we use to exactly and efficiently determine which combination of keywords is responsible for triggering the censorship of sensitive text. Our ongoing monitoring can quickly recognize the introduction of new automated Chinese censorship in response to unfolding world events.

We would like to thank a reviewer who wishes to remain anonymous. Research for this project was supervised by Ron Deibert.

We have made all of the data collected from our ongoing measures beginning January 1, 2023, through the end of this reports data collection period available here.

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Chinese censorship following the death of Li Keqiang - Citizen Lab

Here in Alabama, as in other red states, there is a small band of religiously motivated zealots who want to impose their version of morality and decency on the entire population. Their latest effort to reshape society is to force the relocation of certain books from the young adult section to the adult section in public libraries.

They mask this act under the guise of protecting youth from pornographic or inappropriate content, but lets call it what it is: a ban. This tactic is as transparent as it is dishonest, reflecting a worrying trend toward controlling what young people are exposed to in terms of knowledge and perspectives.

The current debate surrounding book bans starkly contrasts with the more pressing issues affecting the states youth. The statistics are telling: Alabamas teen birth rate, as reported by the CDC, stands at 22.9 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19 years, which is significantly higher than liberal Californias rate of 9.9 births per 1,000 in the same age group. This places Alabama with the fifth-highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation, according to the World Population Review.

Furthermore, the situation regarding child poverty and food insecurity in Alabama is alarming. Data from the USDA shows that 22.7 percent of children under 17 live in poverty, and 22.3 percent, or 243,880 children, face food insecurity. These figures paint a picture of a state grappling with profound challenges impacting its younger population. But the most pressing issue among these would-be censors is books in a public library.

The targets of this crusade are books discussing Black history, racism in America, and the experiences of transgender youth and the LGBTQ community. Such selective censorship echoes the age-old, yet always defeated, attempts to suppress knowledge and control thought.

Efforts to ban or censor books have always been on the wrong side of history and, are ultimately rejected by societies that value freedom and diversity of thought. History is replete with instances of censorship that are now seen as ignorant and cruel. Consider the Roman Catholic Churchs Index Librorum Prohibitorum, a notorious list of prohibited books.

This censorship, once considered a bulwark of societal values, is now regarded as a dark chapter in the history of intellectual freedom. Similarly, the burning of William Tyndales translation of the New Testament into English, an act that led to his execution, reflects a time when censors were viewed as defenders of societal norms, yet today, they are seen as villains.

Another example is the Roman Emperor Caligula, who in 35 A.D. opposed Homers The Odyssey for its ideas of freedom. His actions, once perhaps seen as maintaining the status quo, are now looked upon as suppressive and regressive.

The most extreme case might be that of the Chinese Emperor Shih Huang Ti. In 212 B.C., in an attempt to redefine history and consolidate his power, he reportedly buried 460 scholars alive and burned countless books. This draconian act, intended to mark the beginning of history with his reign, is now condemned as a heinous crime against humanity.

These historical episodes illustrate a pattern: actions once seen as upholding societal norms or protecting the status quo are often later condemned as acts of savagery and hate. They remind us of the ever-evolving nature of social values and the importance of preserving freedom of thought.

The current situation in Alabama echoes these historical precedents, revealing a fundamental conflict between freedom of expression and attempts to indoctrinate young minds with a particular religious agenda. Removing books from the young adult section of a public library undermines principles of intellectual freedom, educational value, and the developmental benefits for young readers.

Public libraries are a crucial part of every local infrastructure, providing communities with access to diverse viewpoints and ideas. Young Adult (YA) literature, in particular, plays a vital role in addressing social issues and offering insights into experiences different from ones own. This exposure is critical for developing empathy, understanding, and a broader worldview. During adolescence, a period of significant personal and intellectual development, YA books can help young adults navigate complex realities, offering a safe place for exploration and understanding.

Moreover, engaging with challenging or controversial content is essential for fostering critical thinking skills. YA books can stimulate discussion, reflection, and a deeper understanding of complex issues, contributing to the development of informed and literate individuals.

While it is valid for conservatives to champion parental rights and individual choice in guiding their childrens reading, it is not appropriate to impose these preferences on the broader community. Public libraries serve diverse populations with varying values and interests. What one family finds objectionable may be invaluable to another. In a free society, the answer lies in personal choice, not in government-imposed restrictions.

This movement is not about protecting the young but controlling them, shaping their views to fit a narrow narrative. It goes against the very essence of what public libraries represent: freedom of thought, exposure to a multitude of ideas, and the fostering of informed, empathetic citizens. As history has repeatedly shown, efforts to censor and control thought are not only doomed to fail but also counterproductive to the growth of a free and open society.

Gov. Kay Iveys call for Alabama solutions to Alabama problems rings true, but the focus seems misdirected when it comes to banning library books. While efforts intensify to ban and censor books, real and tangible issues like teen pregnancy, child poverty, and food insecurity receive less attention. This discrepancy suggests that the motivation behind the book bans may be less about protecting Alabamas youth and more about advancing a specific religious ideology.

In the heart of Alabama, a debate ragesnot about the pressing issues that grip the state, but about the content of library shelves. This is nothing more than a small band of social crusaders hoping to offer no solutions to a dire problem while inventing a dire solution where no problem exists.

The people of the state and its lawmakers must not be fooled by these charlatans but concentrate on the real challenges facing the states youth.

The situation calls for a reevaluation of priorities. Addressing the root causes of teen pregnancy, poverty, and food insecurity should take precedence over censoring library content. The states children and youth face real problems that need real solutions, not just symbolic gestures that align with certain ideological viewpoints. Redirecting the focus toward these fundamental issues would better serve the needs of Alabamas younger generation.

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Opinion | Book censors in history: not heroes, but villains of ... - Alabama Political Reporter

LeVar Burtoncontinues to speak out againstbook censorship. On Wednesday, Burton delivered his opening remarks at the 74th National Book Awards & Benefit Dinner in New York City. Burton specifically called out Moms for Liberty, the conservative organization thats attempting to censor books in schools.

Before we get going, are there any Moms for Liberty in the house? Moms for Liberty? No? Good. Then hands will not need to be thrown tonight, Burton told the audience,Peoplereported.

Moms for Liberty has been leading an effort to block schools from providing books about sexuality and gender in their libraries, according toPeople. The organization is also aiming to ban LGBTQ+ and race discussions from being included in school curriculums.

Burton hosted the event, recognizing outstanding people and works in the literature industry. Drew Barrymore was initially chosen as host of this years event. However, the actress was replaced when she faced public backlash after deciding to keep her talk show going during the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Burton has received numerous accolades for his contribution to literature. Among his many honors, the formerReading Rainbowhost was named the 2023 honorary chair of Banned Books Week. As he spoke out against the effort to ban certain books from schools, Burton said freedom feels especially fraught in this global political moment.

On the home front, we are fighting for control of truth and how we interpret truth in this country, Burton said. Books are being banned, words are being silenced, and writers and others who champion books are under attack.

Burton also paid tribute to his mother, an English teacher. The beloved TV personality said his mother taught him that if you can read in at least one language, you are, by her definition, free.

Giving credit to his sister Letitia as well, Burton said she was the one who taught him how to read. The Roots actor urged the audience to remember that books are under attack because theyre so powerful.

Stories are the tool that enable us to better understand ourselves and, yes, our history, he said. To live over the course of a few pages in the experiences of another and to create a world where we can all be free.

The 2023 National Book Awards ceremony also featured Oprah Winfrey, who appeared as a special guest and spoke out to support literacy. The event included virtual appearances from Julie Andrews, Matthew McConaughey, Samin Nosrat, Trevor Noah and Dua Lipa. The celebrities introduced the various literature categories that were recognized on the evening.

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LeVar Burton Slams Book Censorship, Moms For Liberty At The National Book Awards: Writers And Others Who Champion Books Are Under Attack - Yahoo News

Euronews was told that pro-Palestinian views were being suppressed inside schools, with some Jewish pupils in a "dark zone of depression".

Amy* is a teacher at a school in London.

Like many other schools in Britain, a majority of the pupils come from Muslim or Arab backgrounds.

Sympathies for Palestine run high in her classroom, amid the devastating war between Israel and Hamas.

Since the violence erupted on 7 October, younger students have often drawn the Palestinian flag on their hands, doodled it on their books or displayed Palestinian flag pins on their uniform in what she called child-like expressions of solidarity.

Theyre really deeply upset and worried about Palestine, she told Euronews.

Initially, Amy said the school let the pupils express their support for those in Gaza and the West Bank.

But it has since begun cracking down on these acts under the guise of violations against uniform policy, threatening to punish the kids if they refuse. Staff have also been told not to wear the Palestine pin.

There is a double standard, she claimed, pointing out that students were encouraged to support Ukraine when Russia invaded in February 2022 and that staff are still allowed to display symbols and signs of other political causes, like LGBT+ rights or the Black Lives Matter movement.

It's presented as impartially, but in reality is deeply ideological.

Under government rules, schools in the UK are legally bound to prohibit the promotion of partisan political views and should take steps to ensure the balanced presentation of opposing views on political issues when they are brought to the attention of pupils.

In advice issued to schools in October, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan wrote: "We know that young people may have a strong personal interest in these issues, which could lead to political activity.

"Schools and colleges should ensure that any political expression is conducted sensitively, meaning that it is not disruptive and does not create an atmosphere of intimidation or fear for their peers and staff."

Alongside alienating" pupils from the teachers, who often feel insulted when they are told to wash the flag off their hands, Amy claimed impartiality rules were "being used to silence the Palestinian crisis and prevent students from having an opinion about a genocide happening in Gaza.

Hamas deadly assault on southern Israel sparked the current conflict, killing 1,400 people and taking hundreds hostage.

While 2022 was the deadliest year on record for Palestinians, according to the UN, 2023 was already set to overtake that record even before Israel began relentlessly bombing Gaza.

Israeli retaliation has killed at least 11,500 people so far, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Hamas-controlled health ministry.

Teacher Amy placed the school's policy towards the Israel-Hamas war against a broader depoliticisation of teachers and a shift towards focusing on behaviour, rather than provoking critical thinking.

We should be having different conservations about topics related to the conflict, like how criticism of Israel is not anti-semitic, the existence of Jewish peace activists in Israel and understanding war crimes. Theres not much space for the kids to think and be curious," she told Euronews.

Amy added that she felt "nervous about how much more repression the school community may face as the situation [in Israel and Gaza] develops."

Still, the teacher said many students were pushing back against the school's policies which were becoming a point of rebellion.

Things could get a bit lively. Kids are getting told off about things they weren't getting told off about before. They feel it's an injustice."

The bloodshed has sparked a number of issues for Britain's Jewish schools and pupils, too.

David Meyer, CEO of the Partnership for Jewish Schools, told Euronews that a significant challenge was nervousness and discomfort amongst Jewish pupils, especially those in non-Jewish schools.

"The enormity of the attack that took place in Israel, the shock of what happened there, immediately made anybody who's Jewish around the world feel insecure," he said. "That has then been coupled with a tsunami of antisemitism."

Hate crimes against Jewish people in London have risen by 1,350%, the Metropolitan police said in October. Islamophobic offences in the UK capital increased by 140%.

Both Jewish and Muslim communities have previously complained of feeling unprotected by the authorities.

Student wellbeing was also an issue said Meyer, with children exposed to absolutely horrendous footage of the Hamas "terrorist attack".

We are very worried about the impact on childrens mental health. Some are constantly thinking about the hostages, worrying about them. We are trying to help the children understand how to compartmentalise things in their lives so that they are not constantly in this dark zone of depression."

Some 240 people were taken hostage by Hamas and brought to Gaza when it attacked southern Israel in early October, according to Israeli authorities. A few have been freed, while the Palestinian militant group claims several others have been killed in Israeli airstrikes.The fate of the rest is unknown.

Amid a surge of what he called ignorance and misinformation around the conflict, Meyer said it was vital to educate students, especially on the dangers of social media.

For him, it was "vital to ensure children are given a proper informed and balanced education so that they understand actually what is going on."

He said the "history of Israel" and the "different narratives" and "perspectives" within that were "very, very complex".

"Being able to educate children around this and for them to understand the difference between having open and honest conversations, disagreements and a disparity of views, and a recognition of that is healthy.

One obstacle he cited is that schools in England are blocking lessons on the Middle East, such as the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In November, the Observer newspaperreported that fewer than 2% of GCSE history students in England studied a module on the Middle East in 2020, and experts estimate that only 27 schools in England currently teach it.

It claimed schools were concerned about "bad publicity" or afraid of being accused of bias.

"It's absolutely true that the students have [to be] taught different narratives to really try and interrogate those to find sensible solutions," Meyer added.

*The teacher's name has been changed as she was not authorised to talk directly to the media and was concerned about repercussions from her employer.

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Censorship and safety: How the Israel Hamas war is affecting schools - Euronews