China’s former internet czar ousted in graft campaign

Lu Wei

Lu Wei, former deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and former head of the Cyberspace Administration of China, has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office, accused of multiple offenses including taking bribes.

The party’s anti-corruption watchdog body announced the dismissal earlier this week after an investigation by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

The investigation found that Lu had severely violated the Party’s political discipline and rules. While appearing to be obedient, he covertly refused to implement the Party’s decisions and polices in practice, the CCDI said in a statement.

The CCDI accused Lu of deceiving the CPC Central Committee, being defiant of rules, acting wantonly and issuing groundless criticisms of the CPC Central Committee’s decisions and policies.

He was also found to have obstructed the central authority’s discipline inspections, abused power and public resources for personal purposes and unscrupulously sought personal influence.

Lu was formerly the country’s top internet regulator and censor. His responsibilities included holding high-profile meetings with top executives from foreign technology and internet companies, including Apple chief executive Tim Cook, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Among a long list of accusations against Lu was that he engaged in factionalism and “selectively enforced” the party’s “strategic arrangements on internet work,” in addition to being corrupt and abusing his powers.

It said his case would be referred to “the relevant national bodies to be dealt with according to law.”

Lu had been placed under investigation in November on suspicion of “serious violations of discipline.”

He had already been replaced as internet czar in June but until Tuesday had formally retained his position as vice minister of propaganda.

Lu had been known as a hard- liner responsible for leading the government’s efforts to tighten control over domestic cyberspace and championing the party’s position that governments have a right to filter and censor their countries’ internet.

China has long sought to utilize the web for commercial purposes, while preventing the free exchange of information.

Lu wielded wide-ranging powers over what China’s 700 million internet users could view online and acted as gatekeeper for technology companies wishing to do business in China.

He demanded tough security checks on imported foreign tech products and enforced measures to restrict the activities of foreign internet companies and block social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in the name of preserving social stability.

Lu’s departure has not led to any easing of such demands or restrictions on information. MDT/Agencies