Peter Foster and Malcolm Moore
London Telegraph
Thursday, January 14th, 2010
Internet companies in China must co-operate with the
government in “guiding” opinion on the internet, a senior
Chinese government spokesman has warned, as the US internet giant
Google remained in negotiations over its threat to pull out of the
world’s biggest internet market.
The statement from China’s State Council
Information Office, or cabinet, confirmed China’s commitment to
controlling the web following Google’s ultimatum that it must be
allowed to operate free from censorship.
Although not mentioning Google by name, Wang Chen, the cabinet
spokesman, said internet companies had a “major
responsibility” to help the Chinese government maintain
“social stability and harmony” by “guiding public
opinion correctly”.
China justifies its draconian censorship laws on the grounds that it
is protecting juveniles from pornography, but its ruling Communist
Party also blocks access to any information that it considers might
destabilise its position as the country’s sole rulers.
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