WASHINGTON —
Chinese officials have pushed back against claims that foreign athletes attending the Beijing Winter Olympics could be under surveillance by Chinese authorities, saying they will ensure that athletes' personal privacy is not leaked.
The Olympic committees of the United States, Australia and the Netherlands have each issued a warning to their athletes attending the Beijing Winter Olympics, calling on them not to bring their personal mobile phones and computers into China, lest their phone calls and Internet information be monitored by the Chinese authorities.
When asked about the issue at a regular press conference on Tuesday (January 18, 2022), Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, "We have noticed relevant reports. Relevant countries have raised questions about China's so-called 'network security'. , it's a complete upside-down, creating something out of nothing."
A day ago, the spokesperson of the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee said in response to the same question that all the actions of the Winter Olympics Organizing Committee strictly abide by the "Personal Information Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" and other relevant laws and regulations.
The spokesperson said that the Winter Olympics should use the "Winter Olympics" mobile phone app or Internet site to collect the personal information of athletes and staff, and stipulate that all overseas registrants attending the Winter Olympics will be in the "Winter Olympics" from 14 days before entry. Health status is actively reported on the “Winter Olympics”, but the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee takes encryption measures to ensure the safety of personal privacy.
The spokesman did not directly respond to claims that the online activities of foreign athletes while in China could be monitored by Chinese authorities.
US media have reported in recent days that the US Olympic Committee encourages Olympic athletes to use disposable mobile phones instead of bringing their own devices to China, citing that "they may be monitored during the Beijing Winter Olympics."
"Every device, every communication, every transaction and every online activity could be monitored," The Wall Street Journal said, citing the USOC's guidelines.
The Dutch Olympic Committee plans to distribute unused electronic communication devices to members of the Dutch delegation to the Beijing Winter Olympics, as a measure to counter the interference of Chinese government monitors, Dutch newspapers said earlier, citing sources. They are used during their stay in China.
The Chinese authorities have been strengthening the function of the Internet firewall to prevent their citizens from accessing social media platforms, search engines, websites, and text messaging software that are popular internationally but are deemed by the authorities to endanger national security.
Angeli Datt, a senior China researcher at Freedom House, a Washington-based human rights group, told VOA earlier that foreign athletes would suffer when using the unrestricted Wi-Fi service provided by China during the Winter Olympics. Take some risks as their online activities are vulnerable to surveillance by the authorities.