Free speech group wants to end China's Internet censorship

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A California free-speech group wants to force China to end Internet censorship and remove barriers to American e-commerce companies hoping to do business in China. In a presentation Monday to the Office of the US Trade Representative in Washington, the San Rafael, California-based California First Amendment Coalition argued that China's blatant and sophisticated censorship of the Internet violates China's obligations under the World Trade Organization. The nonprofit group wants the US Trade Representative to file a petition with the WTO alleging that China has breached agreements that WTO members must adhere to. China became a member of the WTO in 2001. The WTO has never addressed whether e-commerce and Internet access are covered by the organization's bylaws - but activists say the CFAC initiative could become a test case.