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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China arrests man over 'false stories' on foreign news site | China arrests man over 'false stories' on foreign news site |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Chinese authorities say they have detained a man who posted "fabricated information" on a foreign news site. | Chinese authorities say they have detained a man who posted "fabricated information" on a foreign news site. |
| State-run Xinhua news agency said Xiang Nanfu, 62, had published "false stories" on the Boxun website that "seriously harmed" China's image. | State-run Xinhua news agency said Xiang Nanfu, 62, had published "false stories" on the Boxun website that "seriously harmed" China's image. |
| Boxun, a US-based Chinese news site, posts stories on protests and rights that would not appear in state media. | Boxun, a US-based Chinese news site, posts stories on protests and rights that would not appear in state media. |
| The move comes amid an internet crackdown and ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen killings. | The move comes amid an internet crackdown and ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen killings. |
| 'Deteriorating' | 'Deteriorating' |
| According to Xinhua, Mr Xiang had published "numerous false stories" on Boxun since 2009. | According to Xinhua, Mr Xiang had published "numerous false stories" on Boxun since 2009. |
| These included claims of organ-harvesting from live humans, false reports about land seizures, petitioners and police violence, it said. | These included claims of organ-harvesting from live humans, false reports about land seizures, petitioners and police violence, it said. |
| Mr Xiang was arrested on 3 May and had confessed to his crimes, it said. He was also shown on state television admitting guilt - the latest in a series of TV confessions from media or internet-related detainees. | Mr Xiang was arrested on 3 May and had confessed to his crimes, it said. He was also shown on state television admitting guilt - the latest in a series of TV confessions from media or internet-related detainees. |
| Boxun, which is blocked in China, runs stories - sometimes thinly sourced - on sensitive issues, many from "citizen journalists". | Boxun, which is blocked in China, runs stories - sometimes thinly sourced - on sensitive issues, many from "citizen journalists". |
| Many of its stories would not be reported in China's strictly-controlled state-run media. | Many of its stories would not be reported in China's strictly-controlled state-run media. |
| In a statement on its website, Boxun said Mr Xiang had written about petitioners and rejected the claim that he had been paid for his reports. | In a statement on its website, Boxun said Mr Xiang had written about petitioners and rejected the claim that he had been paid for his reports. |
| It linked the arrest to the recent detention of several journalists and bloggers. "This is a clear sign that human rights in China are quickly deteriorating," it said. | It linked the arrest to the recent detention of several journalists and bloggers. "This is a clear sign that human rights in China are quickly deteriorating," it said. |
| Chinese authorities have been engaged in a widespread campaign against "internet rumours", which has included a clampdown on influential bloggers. | Chinese authorities have been engaged in a widespread campaign against "internet rumours", which has included a clampdown on influential bloggers. |
| Under regulations announced last year, internet posts that are deemed to be false can land their authors with a three-year jail term if they are viewed by more than 5,000 people. | Under regulations announced last year, internet posts that are deemed to be false can land their authors with a three-year jail term if they are viewed by more than 5,000 people. |
| In recent weeks the authorities have also been targeting activists ahead of the 25th anniversary of the killing of pro-democracy protesters around Tiananmen Square. | |
| Last week, prominent journalist Gao Yu was "criminally detained" over the alleged leak of a confidential document to a foreign website. | Last week, prominent journalist Gao Yu was "criminally detained" over the alleged leak of a confidential document to a foreign website. |
| Her arrest and subsequent televised confession came days after a number of activists who had attended a seminar on the Tiananmen protests were rounded up, including human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang. | Her arrest and subsequent televised confession came days after a number of activists who had attended a seminar on the Tiananmen protests were rounded up, including human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang. |