Chinese Web Users Petition Against Internet Censorship

Chinese internet users have shown their disapproval for the government’s information control in a petition signed by hundreds of citizens.

The document stated that the nation, of over 100 million internet users, grants constitutional rights to its citizens for freedom of expression and publication, and that those rights "should be respected and protected" and "not be subject to any unlawful restrictions and obstructions."

"The problem is we're supposed to enjoy freedom of expression, but rules like these mean all the channels for expression are blocked," said Chen Yongmiao, a Beijing rights activist, according to Reuters.

The petition began circulating, Saturday, in emails and Chinese-language websites not targeted by government censorship. 13 of the signatories included representatives from local Chinese websites that were recently shut down.