The following examples of censorship instructions, issued to the media and/or Internet companies by various central (and sometimes local) government authorities, have been leaked and distributed online. Chinese journalists and bloggers often refer to those instructions as “Directives from the Ministry of Truth.” CDT has collected the selections we translate here from a variety of sources and has checked them against official Chinese media reports to confirm their implementation.
State Council Information Office: In China 94% Are Unhappy; Top-Heavy Concentration of Wealth
March 7, 2011
From the State Council Information Office: All websites are requested to immediately remove the story “In China 94% Are Unhappy; Top-Heavy Concentration of Wealth” and related information. Forums, blogs, micro-blogs, and other interactive spaces are not to discuss the matter.
国新办：中国94％不幸福 财富分配头重脚轻
国新办：请各网站立即将”中国94%不幸福财富分配头重脚轻“一文以及相关信息全部撤下网页。论坛、博客、微博客等互动栏目不得讨论
State Council Information Office: Meticulously Propagandize and Report on the “Two Congresses”
March 5, 2011
From the State Council Information Office: All local websites must meticulously propagandize and report on the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress. Set up special areas, columns, and webpages on the “Two Congresses,” and set up “Two Congress” headlines in prominent positions. These must stand out and give off an animated and grand propagandistic air. It is required to provide timely, accurate, and full reporting on the important activities of Party and state leaders at the “Two Congresses.”
All websites are to fully employ the capabilities offered by Internet media, and comprehensively utilize text, images, animation, and other multi-media interactive forms of propaganda to report on the Two Congresses. This is particularly necessary for the important content and spirit of the opening ceremonies of the Two Congresses, news conferences, and working reports of the government and the standing committee of the National Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress.
In general, propaganda requires that we circle around and hold high the flag of the Party; focus on building up the interests of the nation; in all things serve the people; and maintain reform and innovation. Please emphasize positive propagandizing of unity, stability, and enthusiasm. All reports must fully reflect the democracy of the meetings, and the general scene of unity, fact-seeking, and bold advancement.
国新办：精心宣传报道“两会”
国新办：各地网站务必精心宣传报道“两会”。请设立“两会”专题、“两会”专栏和“两会”网页，请在醒目位置设置“两会”标识，必须烘托出热烈、隆重的宣传氛围。对于党和国家领导人在“两会”上的重要活动，必须及时、准确、充分报道.
请各网站充分发挥网络媒体的优势，综合运用文字、图片、动漫等多媒体互动形式宣传报道两会。特别是报道两会的开幕会和新闻发布会，以及政府工作报告和全国政协常委会工作报告的主要内容和精神。
总体宣传要求必须环绕高举党的旗帜、围绕建设大局、一切服务于人民、坚持改革创新，请突出团结、稳定、鼓劲的正面宣传。所有报道要充分反映会议民主、团结、求实、奋进的风貌
Central Propaganda Bureau: High-speed Rail Cases
March 4, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: All media must carefully report on any cases related to high-speed rail.
中宣部：高铁提案
中宣部：各媒体必须慎重报道有关高铁的任何提案
Central Propaganda Bureau: Self-immolation in Beijing
March 4, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: All media are not to report on the self-immolation in Beijing of a man from Qinhuangdao.
中宣部：北京自焚
中宣部：各媒体对一秦皇岛男子昨天在北京自焚一事不得报道。
Central Propaganda Bureau: “Proposal King” of the Two Congresses
March 4, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: In their reports on the proposals before the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress, media are in all cases to use copy circulated from the Xinhua news agency. Do not hype the “Proposal King*”; do not question the function of the Consultative Congress.
中宣部：两会提案大王
中宣部：各媒体，有关政协提案的报道，一律用新华社通稿，不得炒作提案大王；不得质疑政协作用
Central Propaganda Bureau: Liu Zhijun’s Mistresses
March 4, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: All media are not to report or hype the news that Liu Zhijun had 18 mistresses.
中宣部：刘志军情妇
中宣部：各媒体不得报道炒作刘志军有18个情妇的新闻
Central Propaganda Bureau: Liu Xiang’s Lack of Preparation
March 4, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: All media are not to hype People’s Congress and People’s Political Consultative Congress representative Liu Xiang’s lack of preparation.
中宣部：刘翔未准备提案
中宣部：各媒体对两会代表刘翔未准备提案不得炒作。
Central Propaganda Bureau: The People’s Security Apparatus Fears the People.
March 4, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: All media are not to report on excessive use of public security in Beijing during the meetings of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Congress. Do not hype the story “The People’s Security Apparatus Fears the People.”
中宣部：人民保安怕人民
中宣部：所有媒体对两会期间北京保安人员过多，“人民保安怕人民”不得炒作
Central Propaganda Bureau: Corruption of Party Committee Secretary in Wushe County, Henan
March 4, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: All media are not to report on the corruption case of the Party Committee Secretary in Wushe County, Henan.
中宣部：河南武涉县委书记腐败
中宣部：所有媒体对河南武涉县委书记腐败案不得报
Central Propaganda Bureau: Student Death at Hebei Industrial University
March 4, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: All media are not to report on the death of a Hebei Industrial University (Hebei gongye daxue) at a train station in Daqing.
中宣部：河北工业大学大学生死亡
中宣部：所有媒体对河北工业大学学生在大庆火车站死亡一事不得报道
Central Propaganda Bureau: Student at Southeast University Distributes Leaflets
March 4, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: All media are not to report on the student from Southwest University (Dongnan daxue) who illegally assembled and distributed pamphlets.
中宣部：东南大学学生散发传单
中宣部：所有媒体对东南大学学生非法聚集、散发传单一事不得报道
Central Propaganda Bureau: Salary Increases for the PLA
March 3, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: All media are not to hype the salary increase given to the People’s Liberation Army.
中宣部：解放军加薪
中宣部：所有媒体对解放军加薪不得炒作。
State Council Information Office: Electronic Book: Shenyun xianyin
March 3, 2011
From the State Council Information Office: All websites are requested to immediately remove all of the so-called “romantic novel” Shenyun xianyin written by the Buddhist writer “Cibei shengyin” (“Merciful Sagely Voice), as well as related information, from websites and e-book downloading pages. Online forums, blogs, micro-blogs, and other interactive spaces are not to discuss them.
中宣部：电子书：《神韵仙音》
国新办：请各网站即将有关法轮功作者“慈悲圣音“所写的所谓”言情小说“《神韵仙音》以及相关信息全部撤出网站和电子书下载网页。论坛、博客、微博客等互动栏目不得讨论
Central Propaganda Bureau: Jasmine
March 2, 2011
From the Central Propaganda Bureau: Media are not to report on any information related to “Chinese Jasmine.”
中宣部：茉莉花
中宣部：各媒体不得报道“中国茉莉花”有关的任何信息
State Council Information Office: China Banking Regulatory Commission’s Official Network Appears to Have Leaked the Personal Information of 188 Citizens
March 2, 2011
From the State Council Information Office: All websites are requested to immediately search for and delete the story “Citizens’ Personal Information is Precious: China Banking Regulatory Commission Appears to Have Leaked the Personal Information of 188 Citizens.” All websites and interactive spaces, including online forums, blogs, micro-blogs, instant messaging services, and text messaging services are to thoroughly search for and immediate delete this story and related information.
Citizens’ Personal Information is More Important Than Heaven: China Banking Regulatory Commission Appears to Have Leaked the Personal Information of 188 Citizens
February 28, 2011 11:14 pm
Editor: admin Hits: 143
This evening, Gui Wenzi received some explosive information from an online friend saying that there was a situation with China Regulatory Banking Commission’s Official Network.
I followed my friend’s suggestion and went to the website for a look. Indeed, something was there! In a document attached to an announcement issued on January 28, 2011, there was some content that possibly leaked some citizens’ personal information.
I opened up one item and downloaded one of the documents, entitled “Roster of Examinees who Took Written Tests and Interviewed for [Entry Into] Special Academic Fields.” I took a quick glance, and the names of quite a few examinees and their identification card numbers were all listed. Shrinking the size of this chart, I discovered that lines 1,423 to 1,610 included additional information. The roster included a total of 3,721 examinees, so why only after the information of these particular examines was there additional content? Could it be that these examinees from line 1,423 to line 1,610 are somehow special?
I looked at this content a bit closer. My god! I saw only that it astonishingly included the home address of the examinees, their flight numbers, cell phone numbers, post office boxes, as well as their work history, school record, names and work units of close relatives, and other information. There are 188 lines between lines 1,423 to 1,610, which is to say that this information, belonging to 188 comrades, had sadly been leaked.
I wonder if this is some “good deed” done by a worker at the China Banking Regulatory Commission. 188: this number is truly lucky!
I hope that other workers at China Banking Regulatory Commission pay attention. The China Banking Regulatory Commission has been authorized to provide centralized supervision and management of banks, financial and capital management companies, investment trust companies, and other financial deposit institutions. It protects the legal and steady operations of the banking industry. For its personnel, “meticulousness” is a required quality!
At the same time, I plead to the government and comrades in other bureaus that the personal information of citizens is precious. Please respect the personal information rights of citizens, and appropriately protect their personal information. Thank you!
国新办：银监会官网疑似泄露188位公民隐私
国新办： 请各网站立即检查删除“公民隐私大于天－银监会官网疑似泄露188位公民隐私”一文。各网站和互动环节包括论坛，博客，微博,即使通讯和SNS彻底检查并立即删除该文以及相关信息。 －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－ 公民隐私大于天——银监会官网疑似泄露188位公民隐私 2011-02-28 23:14 责任编辑：admin 点击:143次 晚上，鬼文子接到一个网友的爆料，说中国银行业监督管理委员会官网有情况。 我按照网友的暗示，打开其官网看了一会，果然有情况！2011年1月28日发布的一则信息的附件里，有一块内容可能泄露了一部分公民的隐私。 打 晚上，鬼文子接到一个网友的爆料，说中国银行业监督管理委员会官网有“情况”。
我按照网友的暗示，打开其官网看了一会，果然有情况！2011年1月28日发布的一则信息的附件里，有一块内容可能泄露了一部分公民的隐私。
打开其中一则信息，下载其附件一：《参加专业科目笔试和面试考生名单》。粗看，有不少考生名单，身份证号码啥的都列出来了。缩小一下这份名单的表格，我发现第1423行到1610行，后面竟然还有一块内容。奇怪，名单里共有考生3721人，为什么独独这些考生信息后面会多出一块内容呢，难道从1423行到1610行的这些考生有什么特别的？
仔细查看这块内容，我的天！只见里面赫然列出了报考考生的家庭地址、座机号码、手机号码、邮箱，还有工作经历、学习经历、亲人姓名及工作单位等内容。从第1423行到1610行共有188行，也就是说有188位同志的这些信息不幸被泄露了。
不知道这是银监会哪位工作人员做的“好事”，188位，这个数字可真吉利！
希望银监会其他工作人员注意，中国银行业监督管理委员会根据授权，统一监督管理银行、金融资产管理公司、信托投资公司以及其它存款类金融机构，维护银行业的合法、稳健运行。作为其中的工作人员，“细心”是必不可少的一项素质！
同时也呼吁政府其他部门的同志，公民隐私大于天，请尊重公民的隐私权，妥善保护好公民的隐私。谢谢！
In China, several political bodies are in charge of Internet content control. At the highest level, there is the Central Propaganda Department, which ensures that media and cultural content follows the official line as mandated by the CCP. Then there is the State Council Information Office (SCIO), which has established an “Internet Affairs Bureau” to oversee all Websites that publish news, including the official sites of news organizations as well as independent sites that post news content.
This “Internet Affairs Bureau,” sends out very specific instructions to all large news websites daily, and often multiple times per day. Those instructions do not always mean that related contents are completely banned online, but they instruct websites to highlight or suppress certain type of opinions or information in a very detailed manner.
Chinese journalists and bloggers often refer to those instructions, as well as other type of censorship orders to media and websites, as “Directives from the Ministry of Truth.” The Ministry of Truth (or Minitrue, in Newspeak) is one of the four ministries that govern Oceania in George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. In the Chinese blogosphere, it is the online nickname for the Central Propaganda Department and generally speaking, all other subordinate propaganda agencies including Internet supervision departments.
Today, it’s been said that news does not break, it tweets. For the officials in the the Ministry of Truth, the news is that their supposedly confidential instructions get tweeted as well.
* A “proposal king” is an official who submits a large number of proposals at a session of congress. The title, “proposal king”, has been shared by a number of provincial and national legislators (including Feng Hongbin (17 proposals), Zhang Rong (16 proposals) and Peng Linyi (15 proposals)). Perhaps the most well known “proposal king” today is Su Xing who submitted a record 43 proposals to the Consultative Congress.
