New blogging rules

China’s internet users face sophisticated filters, registration of all personal domestic websites, and personal responsibility for all content. The government closes blogs and websites without warning. Internet café users, after presenting identification, are issued user numbers which make it easy to track their web use.

Like other forms of journalism, blogging is protected speech. According to the Temporary Regulations, blogs by foreign reporters before and during the Beijing Games are fully permissible. In February 2008, the International Olympic Committee for the first time agreed to allow blogging at the Olympics and issued guidelines for athletes competing at the Beijing Games. Those guidelines, which in principle do not affect the athletes’ latitude to speak openly with journalists, stipulate that blogs “conform to the Olympic spirit and the fundamental principles of Olympism as contained in the Olympic Charter, and be dignified and in good taste.” As reported by Reuters on February 15, 2008: "The IOC considers blogging... as a legitimate form of personal expression and not a form of journalism…It is required that, when accredited persons at the Games post any Olympic content, it be confined solely to their own personal Olympic-related experience." It is unclear whether an athlete who cares about human rights could argue that blogging about exploited migrant workers is part of his "personal Olympic-related experience." The standard of "good taste" is also highly subjective, and in no instance should the IOC put itself in the role of arbitrating what is political, dignified, or tasteful.