U.S. senator Sam Brownback has charged China with installing Internet-spying equipment in all major hotel chains serving the Beijing Olympics, the Guardian reported on Tuesday. The conservative Republican cited hotel documents he received, stating that all guests at hotels where Olympic visitors are staying "will be subjected to invasive intelligence-gathering by the Chinese Public Security Bureau." Brownback refused to reveal the names of hotels, but handed out English-language translations of two separate documents he said were received by hotels, outlining the Chinese government's instructions on how to use the Internet spying software. According to AFP, one of the documents stated:
It is required that your company install and run the Security Management System for Internet Access from Public Places in addition to provide network interfaces consistent with the industrial technical standards on public security. Refusing the installment or stopping operation of the system after installment will be subject to punishment.Brownback, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. president this year, said he was first notified months ago by human rights advocates of Beijing's plan to monitor Internet activity, but adds that since then, hotels have come forward with detailed information on the monitoring systems. The U.S. State Department issued a warning in March that Americans traveling to Beijing for the Games would have their Internet activity monitored, but China responded that security arrangements were in accordance with international standards. Brownback called on China to revoke the order, calling the Chinese government "the greatest enabler of human rights abuses around the world."
