Bribery-Reporting Websites Now Back Online in China

Back in June, a number of independent websites that allowed Chinese net users to report instances of corruption suddenly gained popularity online. The sites were mostly inspired by similar independently-run Indian anti-corruption sites. But as quickly as the sites appeared, they vanished. None of them had registered with the local communication bureaus, which made the sites illegal, and they were quickly disabled.

Now, the China Daily and other Chinese media are reporting, at least some of the sites are back online, having been granted registration numbers. If you’re a bit surprised to hear that, you’re not the only one. From the China Daily:

“I was a little surprised that its registration could be approved,” said Xiaoxiaosheng, founder of one of the first bribery-exposing websites, who wanted to keep his website low-key and only be identified by his online nickname.

[…]

Xiaoxiaosheng said he did not have too much hope for approval after the site was forced to shut down in late June because of the lack of […] registration.

The China Daily doesn’t cite names, but IT News is reporting that “at least four” of the bribery websites that emerged in June have been granted registration numbers and allowed back online. All of the sites have very similar names; one of them (“I Bribed Chinese Site”) wasn’t linked and may not be online yet. The other three are linked below, with screenshots for your perusal.

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I Bribed: Anti-Corruption Net

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I Bribed

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