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How the Nepal-Tibet disaster became the latest victim of China’s ‘Clean Internet’ campaign
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- The Nepal-Tibet flood disaster has led to missing family members on both sides of the border for Tibetan exile Tsering Phuntsok, who has received no information from Tibet due to government restrictions.
- Chinese authorities are enforcing the “Clean Internet 2026” campaign, which criminalizes unofficial accounts and labels them as “false information” or “rumours,” suppressing independent reporting on the floods.
- Social media discussions about the flood surged briefly but were quickly censored on platforms like WeChat, with posts deleted or blocked for containing “politically sensitive” or “prohibited” content.
- Police in Tibet have taken action against individuals spreading unverified information about the disaster, including claims that the death toll was much higher than the official figure of 43, which human rights groups suspect is being concealed.
- Experts highlight that Chinese authorities manage crisis narratives through both suppression and omission of information, balancing the need for accurate data with strict control to avoid politically sensitive disclosures.
