China’s YouTube
February 8th, 2008
Submitted By: David Zarcone
I recently journeyed down to Santa Barbara with my Technology Entrepreneurship class to visit an MIT Enterprise Forum. One of the various speakers at the “Digital Technology in Filmaking” event spoke about the rapid growth and popularity of “YouTube.” This reminded me of an article that I read just a few days prior regarding China’s version of “YouTube” and how it is causing trouble for Beijing.
Tudou.com, China’s largest video sharing website (more than a billion minutes of video per day, 30% more than YouTube) had a knack for showing clips that could not be shown on Chinese TV. Some of you may have seen the video of the China Central Television’s 2008 Olympics inauguration where a woman questioned China’s morality. “If Chinese have no humane values to present to the world, what is the purpose of the Olympics after all?” Of course, this video had 650,000 views on Tudou but was soon removed (it is still on YouTube however.) Other videos have been deleted causing much controversy such as risqué scenes from films and even a clip of drunken Chinese police officers beating up a college girl.
In response to these, online video posting will be limited to state-owned or state-controlled video providers and all amateur video clips will be immediately deleted. Clips with violence or sex are to be considered “detrimental to the nation’s security.” (This law was to take effect on January 31, 2008.) However, many people believe that enforcement will not take full effect because it may violate current laws. One analyst said “the government just wants to show its power over the industry.” Of course the government wants to control what their citizens can see and do online, but they do not want the possibility of distancing themselves from the overseas financiers who have invested deeply on China’s Internet growth (Western venture capitalists have put $120 million into the industry since 2004.)
This topic is closely related to the human rights issue discussed recently. The comment on how TV in Hong Kong cuts away to commercial when issues like universal suffrage are about to air is a relevant example. What do you think about this topic? Although YouTube is one of the most popular ways for Americans to express their opinions publicly are companies like Tudou in danger? Do Chinese citizens have any form of free speech without government censorship or restraint?
Entry Filed under: Pre-Departure, Beijing, China
12 Comments Add your own
1. Angie Q. Dip | February 8th, 2008 at 11:25 am
This reminds me of the Tank Man video assignment, since the Tiananmen Square Massacre was another topic that has been censored by the government with the help of search engine companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo!.
Companies like Tudou may be in danger of getting shut down by the Chinese government if it continues to show clips of issues that the government is very ‘sensitive’ towards. Although it is great for the Chinese people to express some sort of freedom of speech, to satisfy the Chinese government and continue its business, it cannot allow the Chinese to fully express themselves as they wish.
I do not think that the government should be the ones to decide what topics/commercial/programs the Chinese people should be able to watch - it is the people who should have this right to choose. However, if that is how they do things in China, we should not be the ones to judge whether or not that is the ‘right’ thing to do. In our minds, we do not think it is fair to the Chinese people, but that may not be the same as what most Chinese people think. As we become more globalized, though, I think China would eventually be a little less controlling. But, I do not think that will happen anytime soon.
2. Kyle Tripp | February 8th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I feel that there should be some limitations to what people post on these websites(ex. murder), though I do feel that people should be able to express their views and opinions freely. I think that there is nothing wrong with expressing you personal beliefs. I am tired of hearing that China will not let people search for certain things on the internet that goes against the government. Just let the people look at what ever they want. Companies like Tudou will alway be endanger of getting shut down as long as the government treats all their citizen like children. As to the comment by Angie that we should not be the ones to judge whether or not that is the ‘right’ thing to do, all we do is judge China over and over and over. It is just basically our opinions and unlike China we get to have them and express them on the internet. Go America Yeah!!!!!!!!!
3. Simeon Trieu | February 8th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
To understand the country, first understand their history. China hasn’t always been unified, in fact, it rarely has been. Throughout their history that I’ve read (the Ming dynasty until the present day) , China has been fragmented by civil war, foreign domination and influence, and constant changes in political power. Even today, we can see China struggle for their unity as a nation (ie. Taiwan, Tibet, and the fringe provinces far from Beijing). Now, I know that their intentions are not always pure (trust a politician? Nah..), but they must keep the nation together. The way they have chosen to do that is to exert control over the populace and control the media as much as possible. China has an awfully large population to control, and they are doing what they think is the best solution. A small uprising in China could be millions of people in revolt and has caused major upsets in their political history. Americans have grown up with the idea of “freedom” being a human right. But, sometimes, it’s necessary to keep the stability of the nation, and people in China hold their country and community higher than the individual. It’s something misunderstood often by many Americans. The US is generally united as a nation, but the same is not true for China. Remember that they have been under two major upsets to their political structure within the last 50 years. It’s not an established nation by any means.
So, let me challenge you. Rather than point out the obvious flaws in not having freedom of speech, what would you do to maintain political stability and balance freedom of speech in China?
4. Dena Malloy | February 9th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I think that the internet will force China to become a country with more freedoms. There is no way that China can censor the internet. New sites will pop up just as soon as China shuts them down. The people, one way or another, will be able to post and read whatever they want if they try hard enough.
I admit that this probably does not apply to the rural population, but those that are educated and living in industrial areas with access to wireless internet will be able to access whatever information they wish.
5. Marc van der Chijs | February 9th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
The online video legislation was changed about a week ago, all the existing video sites can continue to grow without having a state-owned enterprise as a majority shareholder. The new rules only apply to new entrants to the online video market.
What most Americans do not realize, is that a lot more is allowed on the Chinese internet than they think. In my experience (I am a co-founder of Tudou) only when the foreign media find a particular clip and write about it, it becomes an issue and it has to be taken off the site. The same is true for the blogosphere, people blog about everything, and do not feel there is limit to way they can say or not say.
Excellent comment by Simeon Trieu by the way, that is exactly the way most Chinese see it. Stability and the interest of the group (collectivism) come first, only after that comes the individual. This is nothing new for a Confusion society.
6. Catriona Banks-Orosco | February 10th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Simeon brings up a good point. I realize China has a large population, but doesn’t history show that oppresion does not bring lasting stability? Can we really equate the idea of collectivism with the need to oppress freedom of speech? I think if I were to try and figure out how to bring lasting stabiity to a country as large as China, it would begin with bringing the masses into the discussion of what is needed. In so many countries, those that need the help the most are left out of the discussion and have no voice.
It is good to hear that “more is allowed on the Chinese internet” than we realize in the US. I think it will be difficult for China to continue to grow their economy and maintain the same level of control. They are encouraging an influx of visitors and outside investors. Creating lasting peace and avoiding a “small uprising” will be more likely when opportunity and information are shared equally.
7. Matt Sprecher | February 13th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
When I first thought about this topic I was in favor of the internet expansion in China. But after reading Simeon’s comment it really made me realize why it is necessary for the internet to say similar to the way it currently is. Notice I through in the word, similar. If censorship is what China needs to keep their country united, then they must continue their efforts. But I think the government needs to make strides in promoting Chinese spirit and moral, along with inspire the people of the nation.
This years’ Olympics are a great way for them to take those strides. They will bring in revenue and tourism that the country hasn’t seen since recently, and the Chinese Olympic team has the chance to make a mark in their home land. As well, they have the chance to, dare I say, unite them as one. I hope that China truly embraces these Olympics like it looks like it is going too. This is there chance to take the next step.
8. Jesse Bilsten | February 16th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I find it humorous that we notice these violations in China and some of us are outraged or upset… and yet when it is slowly happening here in the United States of America we don’t care. My question is to us: What will you do when it happens here? Will you still be upset? Will you even care?
Take the bill that’s being proposed that would allow police misconduct to be hidden from the public. This coming right after a rash of police brutalities caught on tape. Taser usage out of control (using them on a speeding ticket traffic stop?).
We have teleco companies giving our personal information over to the government. Internet providers blocking competitors websites so you can’t shop around as well as traffic they don’t want on their networks. If I was Chinese I might be able to weigh in on this topic but it’s not my place. As Simeon pointed out maybe they need it. is it really our job to judge?
Maybe we should work on protecting our own freedoms first?
9. Deanna Haskell | February 16th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
It is great that websites are appearing that allow Chinese to post whatever they want. It is not surprising that they are being censored. It seems like the natural step for the government. I doubt that they will be able to censor every site. New sites appear daily. The internet will be a way for people to express themselves and get information that they might not otherwise have access to. I found Jesse’s comment about censorship in the U.S. to be very interesting and think that we should focus on changing the censorship of information in the U.S. before we go into someone else’s country and tell them how to run the internet and government.
10. Steve Rodger | February 21st, 2008 at 5:03 pm
On the YouTube subject…For those of you going on the Chindia trip this summer, here is some footage from last years travels. I’ve showed it to some fellow MBAers from last year’s China trip and it brought back some good memories….
11. Chris Carr | February 22nd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Steve,
This is very well done. Good work, thank you, and kudos for taking the time to pull this together.
Chris.
12. Eric Kvilhaug | February 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I ask why can’t we judge what is being controlled in China, so far most o the post we have been asked to make have been judging (analyzing) China or India. Our government decided that personal privacy was not very important (go patriotism), so since it was our government that decided this does it make it what’s best for us. The same can be said for China, just because the government decides freedom of expression should be censored, does that mean it is best for the people. This could be another attempt to keep the people at bay from seeking the real truth about what they want to know. An easy way to eliminate democracy is to not let the word be uttered, read, or printed. Is it what’s best for the government or the people that real matters……….
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