The Internet

Google’s First Step is Morally Clear; Others Should Follow

The Falun Dafa Information Center applauds Google’s initiative to challenge the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over its Internet censorship and encourages other companies, governments, and individuals to do the same. The Center also questions some media references that this move is “risky” or “surprising,” as the human cost of Internet censorship in China could not be any clearer.

Sept. 28, 2009: Falun Gong News Bulletin

• FDIC: 53-year-old Woman Dies from Torture Six Days after Arrest • Cases of Two Elderly Falun Gong Practitioners in Danger Submitted to the United Nations for Urgent Appeal • Chinese Human Rights Defenders: Debarred Lawyer Tortured and Arrested in Northeastern China for Defending Falun Gong • FDIC: Attorneys Sue National Security Team in Wuhou for Denying them the Right to Meet their Falun Gong Client • The New Republic: “Hacking the Regime: How the Falun Gong empowered the Iranian uprising” • 23 Members of U.S. Congress Urge South Korean President Not to Deport Falun Gong Refugees to China • Taiwanese Falun Gong criticize Hong Kong court ruling • Italian MP Issues Statement Condemning the CCP's Persecution of Falun Gong

The New Republic: Hacking the Regime

Top Four Reasons Why "Green Dam Youth Escort" Censorship Software Targets Falun Gong

Despite a common narrative among many journalists that Falun Gong has largely been "crushed" (a narrative championed by the Chinese Communist Party), the degree to which Falun Gong is targeted by Green Dam demonstrates that the group and its adherents’ resistance remain one of the single biggest concerns of the CCP leadership.

Open Net Initiative: "Internet filtering in China in 2004-05: A Country Study"

The Chinese authorities have put significant effort into blocking internet access to the Nine Commentaries. According to a report issued by the Open Net Initiative (a collaborative project between research centers at the University of Toronto, Harvard Law School, and Cambridge University) on internet filtering in China: “Sites listed in response to a search for the ‘Nine Commentaries,’ a highly critical evaluation of the Chinese Communist Party published by the Epoch Times, were … nearly totally inaccessible.”

May 26, 2009: Falun Gong News Bulletin

* FDIC: Police Covering Up Falun Gong Death in Custody at Top Tourist Attraction; Man Dies within Days of Arrest for Writing “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is Good” * China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group: Beijing lawyers Li Chunfu and Zhang Kai Beaten for Representing Re-education Through Labour Camp Death Case * New Tang Dynasty TV: May 13th – Soul of a Nation * China Digital Times: Baidu’s Internal Monitoring and Censorship Document Leaked * Voice of America editorial: Falun Gong Adherents and Defenders Should Not Be Persecuted * Human Rights in China: Wife of Abducted Rights Defense Lawyer Gao Zhisheng Requests Urgent Help from U.S. Congress in Open Letter * Canadian Prime Minister Sends Greetings for World Falun Dafa Day as Adherents Around the World Celebrate the 17th Anniversary of Falun Gong’s Introduction

May 12, 2009: Falun Gong News Bulletin

• New York Times: “With New Software, Iranians And Others Outwit Net Censors” • News-Leader (Springfield, Missouri): “A Mother’s Day Wish: End Persecution for Beliefs” • Des Moines Register: “Women Detail Their Torture in China Camps” • The Epoch Times: “Vice President of European Parliament Calls on UN for Genocide Investigation”; Prominent Author Reveals Research on Organ Harvesting • Letter to the Editor: “A Missing Chinese Lawyer” • Letter to the Editor: “China and the Falun Gong”

April 15, 2009: Falun Gong News Bulletin

• FDIC: “Dozens of Falun Gong Adherents Sentenced to Up to 14 Years Since September 2008” • FDIC: “Urgent Appeal: Retired Professor Faces Imminent Long Sentencing for Practicing Falun Gong” • Chinese Human Rights Defenders: “Beijing Lawyer Cheng Hai Assaulted by Officials for Representing Falun Going Practitioner” • Epoch Times: “Confidential Documents Portray Persecution of Falun Gong; 'Not guilty' verdicts banned” • The Star: “Fears grow over Chinese lawyer’s disappearance” • Freedom House: Internet freedom study finds Falun Gong among most systematically censored topics

Internet Freedom

Throughout the year, Falun Gong and related websites remained among the most systematically and hermetically blocked by China’s Great Firewall, including during the Olympics. In at least one well-documented case, an adherent was sentenced to prison simply for downloading and circulating Falun Gong-related information from the internet.

Shanghai Court Sentences Falun Gong Practitioner to 3.5 Years for Internet Downloads

A Shanghai court sentenced Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Liu Jin to three and a half years in prison on November 3 for downloading information about the practice from the Internet and printing it to distribute to others.