China, Syria, Iran, Bahrain and Vietnam are flagrantly spying online, media watchdog RSF said on Tuesday, urging controls on the export of internet surveillance tools to regimes clamping down on dissent.
In terms of sheer numbers, the “Chinese Communist Party runs one of the world’s biggest digital empires, if not the biggest”, RSF said, adding that individuals and companies have to rent their broadband access from the Chinese state or a government-controlled company.
“The tools put in place to filter and monitor the internet are collectively known as the Great Firewall of China. Begun in 2003, it allows for access to foreign sites to be filtered,” it said, and to block feeds and content deemed undesirable.
“The Chinese cyber-dissident Hu Jia and his wife Zeng Jinyang have had policemen stationed at the foot of their apartment building for months,” it said.
“China jails more people involved in news and information than any other country. Today 30 journalists and 69 netizens are in prison.”