Will China Crack down on Illegal Video Streams of the Olympics?

Will China provide the first example of a government Internet attack on the international Web community? China is threatening cyber war against those who upload clips of the Olympics through the Internet. The New York Times reported over the weekend that the Chinese government agencies responsible for monitoring Internet content seem to be reaching an accommodation with the world's journalistic community gathered in Beijing for the games.

The International Olympic Committee granted exclusive rights to China Central Television (CCTV) to broadcast the games. The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, the National Copyright Administration and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have made a statement that they will take drastic actions against illegal video streams of the Olympics by shutting them down.

Both Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg withdrawal as an adviser to the opening ceremony to draw attention to China's support for the Sudan government, which is waging a civil war in Darfur and tide of critical reporting by the foreign media that turned the torch relay into a melee of protests following the uprising by Tibetans have wounded the feelings of the host government.

The mood has shifted sharply from the friendly internationalism Chinese leaders hoped to display with many Chinese casting a critical eye on Western governments and media for what they see as tarnishing the Olympic moment.

"These Olympics will perhaps hurt the feelings of other countries. But it will be good for Chinese," Wu Jiaxiang, a former government researcher and now a blogger and businessman told the International Herald Tribune. "We care less about human rights than other countries and more about sovereignty. That's bound to create an awkward feeling among other countries."

A Korean television crew apparently got into the Olympic Stadium sometime over the past couple of days, according to a report by The New York Times. The Korean crew shot some of the rehearsals and showed it on SBS in South Korea. It has also been posted on Korean and Chinese Web sites and on YouTube, no doubt angering Chinese officials.

Video of the sneak preview of the opening ceremonies, though, was apparently pulled or blocked or censored from web sites in China and the U.S., including Youtube.com, late Wednesday or early Thursday. The organizers of the ceremonies have given few details about the contents of the ceremonies, which will be attended by leaders from around the world, including President Bush.

Posted by Jason McManus.