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Article

2 Apr 2019

Author:
Shanon Liao, Verge (US)

China: Domestic browsers reportedly censor GitHub page on which workers air workplace grievances

"Tencent and Xiaomi may be censoring a GitHub page for airing worker grievances", 3 Apr 2019

A trending and vastly expanding GitHub database where Chinese developers have been airing their workplace grievances may be at risk of censorship. A number of internet users in China are reporting seeing their access to the database cut off when using browsers offered by companies like Tencent, Alibaba, Xiaomi, and Qihoo 360, as first spotted by Abacus. There’s no indication yet that these censorship efforts may have originated from government orders...

Alibaba’s UC Browser was screenshotted as blocking the database and Alibaba’s name has come up in worker accusations. Alibaba did not respond to comment…

The Verge attempted to verify if the 360 Browser was indeed censored and found that while the repository was accessible, the star feature was blocked. Qihoo 360 did not respond to a request for comment…

Tencent’s QQ Browser reportedly restricts access, but allows users to enter the page if they insist…  Tencent did not respond to a request for comment…

One source told The Verge that the browser block could likely be the result of individual company decisions aimed at quashing criticisms, rather than an order from the Chinese government, as the block only targeted a single page rather than a full domain…  [Also refers to Github, Xiaomi and Chrome]

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