Chinese internet users ‘occupy’ Obama’s Google+ page

Chinese residents gained access to Google’s social networking site, Google+, overcoming Beijing’s blocking of websites and censoring of search results for politically sensitive terms.

This censorship, which affects social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, is known colloquially as the “Great Firewall of China”. Inside China it is part of what is called the Golden Shield Project; a range of internet monitoring and IP-blocking technologies.

It was unclear why Google+ was accessible for some users in China for part of the past week.

A statement from the company said it does nothing to prevent access to its sites.

For the Chinese friends it’s fun to occupy Mr Obamas comments. Ali Utli

One Google executive told Reuters that the company had noticed the opening early last week. Some internet users said they were accessing the site via mobile devices, suggesting that censors may have overlooked certain mobile browsers.

“Oppose censorship, oppose the Great Firewall of China!” one user posted, one of hundreds of comments in Chinese or by people with Chinese names that dominated Barack Obama’s pages over the weekend.

The posts in Chinese slowed to a trickle by Monday, suggesting that the window of unfettered access to Google+ might have closed.

Bumper stickers

But that was not before hundreds of people who said they were Chinese citizens had an opportunity to ask their American counterparts about hallmarks of US elections such as campaign bumper stickers.

“I’d like to grab a bumper sticker in my left hand and a green card in my right hand,” said user Zhou Zuoxin, referring to the permit that allows a foreign citizen to work in the United States.

Despite the outpouring of admiration for Obama from some of those posting with Chinese names, others on the site expressed frustration over the avalanche of Chinese posts.

One user, Peter Keefe, said: “Why do Asians care so much about American politics? Google needs to get that sorted out because, while I have no idea what it says, it could easily be spam.”

Chinese takeover – top posts

Ray Guo – +Dylan Bozarth we have just the chance to access Google+, we hate our CHN GOV…
Cale Monson – Apparently 1.2 billion people just added Barack Obama to their circles.
Kevin Deng – Those who cannot understand why there are so many Chinese: We’re All Just Passing Through.
COATTAIL WA – +Dylan Bozarth we Chinese seldom have the chance to connected with the world’s famous websites including U2B,FACEBOOK, TWITTER,WIKI. g+ opened several days ago and Chinese is so exited and our “occupy” is friendly, We love America and world value!
Olivier de Broqueville – WOW! This is an invasion!!!
COATTAIL WA – +Justin Reysack Maybe you cannot imagine how our internet is blocked inside the mainland China, maybe some of the internet users are so excited to gain such a website they can say something freely,hope American friends won’t fed up with these..
Justin Reysack – maybe china should go back to blocking it LOL.. (joking) glad you enjoy G+ but to be overly excited about the internet is a bit much. and yes we are getting kind of fed up with all the comments in chinese dialect. we can’t understand what is being said.. so what is the point?
Xiaodi Hou – +Justin Reysack, this is a form of performance arts
Sill K. – +Ariana Li yeah, I mean no harm intended but why choose this special post by Obamas + account ? just choose one of ya happy crowd and open a fun thread for a fun chat :)
Ariana Li – +Sill K. cuz he is Present OBAMA!we never feel we are so closed to a leader
Sill K. – looks like Chinese gov cut the line again… comments just stopped.

Another, Justin Reysack, said: “Great conversation…. too bad most people don’t understand it. lol”

Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, said its policy was only to remove posts from the Google+ site when they are offensive or threatening.

Responding to those who criticised their use of the Obama page as a place to express their desire for democracy, many of the Chinese participants called for empathy.

“Many people don’t understand the meaning why all Chinese are coming here. We envy American people their democracy and freedom!” wrote one user with the name Lihui Chen.

They also received backing from other Google+ users: “For the Chinese friends it’s fun to occupy Mr. Obamas (sic) comments,” said Ali Utli. “It’s new to them watching a president writing on a social media. They are very polite with their comments, don’t worry.”

He later added: “I love the chinese peopel (sic) on G+, they are very polite and funny and they are free at Google+!”