'Authoritarian regimes eradicate the freedom of the Internet'

Deutsche Welle Director General Erik Bettermann pointed out that “authoritarian and despot regimes are increasingly eradicating the freedom of the Internet”. To mark World Press Freedom Day (May 3) he noted in an event in Brussels that in some regions of the world the “free exchange of information and opinions for bloggers and people using social networks can be dangerous”. Technical aids make it possible to trace the origin of even anonymous expressions of opinion and to take action against different-minded people. “The Internet is no longer an instrument for dissidents and activists, but also for dictators,” said the Director General.

State-run organizations in the Arab World and in China use it to “keep them in line and cut them off from the outside world”. In China, the digital wall has downgraded the Internet to a national intranet. It is used to choke the creation of opposition. The measures make it difficult to get information about China. For example, search requests from abroad are censored in China or do not lead anywhere. This influences our perception of China in the West. There seems to be a regular export of censorship expertise between China and other authoritarian regimes.

The Chinese government employs tens of thousands of paid bloggers with its so-called “Five-Cent Party”. They post articles in forums out of political conviction or for financial motives. It’s hard to differentiate whether it is “original or paid-for opinion”. Foreign media have to be careful using such sources. With regards to the harsher measures being imposed on Chinese regime opponents, Bettermann said the list of interview partners for the Chinese service is getting shorter every day because of state repression.

The manipulation of the Internet is a huge challenge for journalism. It has to be incorporated in the education and vocational training of journalists. Bettermann pointed out that the Web 2.0 – and its opportunities and risks – has become a key element of the DW-AKADEMIE curriculum.

Bettermann also mentioned that Deutsche Welle's programming continues to be banned in key target regions. The Amharic service have been jammed since April and satellite broadcasts to Iran continue to be interrupted. In China, DW is strongly censored.