China To Criminalize Reporting of Any News Without Government Permission

SuzannePjamSuzannePjam Posts: 411
edited July 2006 in A Moving Train
Dick Cheney is probably hard at work trying to figure out how his administration can pass something like this...

China to ban news reports of major disasters
By Clifford Coonan in Beijing
Published:*05 July 2006

News reporting about disasters and public disorder in China could become a crime under a proposed bill which would ban the spread of information about catastrophes without official permission.

Government officials say the legislation is aimed at stopping "irresponsible journalism", but there are fears it could be used to stop any reporting that does not meet official approval.

The proposed Law on Response to Contingencies threatens fines of up to £7,000 for misleading reports and requires journalists to get government approval before divulging news of natural disasters, outbreaks of disease, riots and other unspecified "sudden events" or "contingencies".
Wang Yongqing, of the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office, said that the law was intended to improve news by stressing journalists' duty to report accurately.

News reporting about disasters and public disorder in China could become a crime under a proposed bill which would ban the spread of information about catastrophes without official permission.
Government officials say the legislation is aimed at stopping "irresponsible journalism", but there are fears it could be used to stop any reporting that does not meet official approval.

The proposed Law on Response to Contingencies threatens fines of up to7,000 for misleading reports and requires journalists to get government approval before divulging news of natural disasters, outbreaks of disease, riots and other unspecified "sudden events" or "contingencies".
Wang Yongqing, of the State Council's Legislative Affairs Office, said that the law was intended to improve news by stressing journalists' duty to report accurately.
"Where there is sacrifice there is someone collecting the sacrificial offerings."-- Ayn Rand

"Some of my friends sit around every evening and they worry about the times ahead,
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference and the promise of an early bed..."-- Elvis Costello
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • my2handsmy2hands Posts: 17,117
    and our companies continue to do major business with these guys...shows you how much our leaders really care about freedom and democracy

    makes me fucking sick
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