IOC Admits Internet Censorship Deal With China

Slashdot states that some International Olympic Committee officials have cut a deal to let China block sensitive websites despite promises of unrestricted access according to a senior IOC official yesterday.

Although China committed to providing media with the same freedom to report on the Games they'd enjoyed in previous Olympics, journalists claim to find access to sites considered sensitive to its communisit leadership blocked.

"I regret that it now appears BOCOG has announced that there will be limitations on website access during Games time," IOC press chief Kevan Gosper said, referring to Beijing's Olympic organizers.

"I also now understand that some IOC officials negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked on the basis they were not considered Games related," he said.

"We are going to do our best to facilitate the foreign media to do their reporting work through the Internet," BOCOG spokesman Sun Weide told a news conference. "I would remind you that Falun Gong is an evil, fake religion which has been banned by the Chinese government."

Paris-based Reporters without Borders said it was becoming increasingly concerned that there would be many cases of censorship during the Olympics.

See more in Reuters.