U.S. Rep. Chris Smith – Chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees Global Human Rights – today announced that for the first time, a hearing in the House of Representatives will be blogged live from Capitol Hill. Smith’s hearing on Wednesday will examine the operating procedures of major US internet companies in China and feature testimony from the US State Department, corporate representatives and NGO’s that focus on human rights. 

    “Modern communications have empowered individuals to get their news from different sources, and blogs have become a regular news source for many Americans – particularly students and younger people,” said Smith. “Live blogs from different events in Congress will enable more Americans to hear their elected representatives, allow for increased transparency and encourage greater civic participation,” 

    “It is important to note that the freedoms that we enjoy in America allow individuals to publish information and news on the Web unfiltered – even from within the walls of Congress,” Smith said. “Those freedoms do not exist in China and individuals who attempt to speak freely are imprisoned and even tortured, and US corporations should not be aiding in that process.” 

    BACKGROUND: For nearly 60 years, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has succeeded in manipulating the flow of information and stifling dissenting views.

    Constantly improving technology and the development of the Internet has challenged the Chinese government’s ability to control news and information dissemination – and more broadly, public opinion. Despite the rapid advancement of the internet, many forms of expression online by individuals and the media remain significantly censored. 

    According to the OpenNet Initiative, “Compared to similar efforts in other states, China's filtering regime is pervasive, sophisticated, and effective. It comprises multiple levels of legal regulation and technical control. It involves numerous state agencies and thousands of public and private personnel. It censors content transmitted through multiple methods, including Web pages, Web logs, on-line discussion forums, university bulletin board systems, and e-mail messages.” The Congressional Research service notes that the “Chinese government employs increasingly sophisticated methods to limit content online, including a combination of legal regulation, surveillance, and punishment to promote self-censorship, as well as technical controls.” 

    Many pro-business and pro-democracy observers argue that the expansion of the Internet and trade will result in increased freedom of expression and political openness in China. Yet, despite recognizing that the ability to communicate openly is essential to breaking down the walls of communism and repression, several of the top US internet companies have aided and complied with the Chinese Government’s demand for censorship in order to enter the PRC market, in essence becoming a megaphone for communist propaganda and a tool for controlling public opinion.

WHAT: “The Internet in China: A Tool for Suppression?”
Subcommittee on Global Human Rights, Africa and International Operations
U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Chairman

WHEN: Wednesday, February 15, 2006
10:00 AM

WHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

WITNESSES: The hearing will consist of three witness panels.

Panel I
James Keith, State Department Senior Advisor for China and Mongolia
David Gross, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Communications and Information Policy (Economic and Business Affairs Bureau)

Panel II
Mark Chandler, Vice President and General Counsel, Cisco Systems.
Jack Krumholtz, Director, Govt. Affairs and Associate General Counsel, Microsoft
Michael Callahan, General Counsel, Yahoo
Elliot Schrage, Vice President of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Google

Panel III
Lucie Morillon, Head of the Internet Freedom Desk, Reporters Without Borders
Harry Wu, Publisher, China Information Center
Libby Liu, President, Radio Free Asia
Xiao Qiang, Director, China Internet Project, University of California, Berkeley
Sharon Hom, Executive Director, Human Rights in China