China: Social Media Tools Embolden Anti-Corruption Activists

Video/Article Response

By: Jeff Rocero

Video Title: China: social media tools embolden anti-corruption activists

Video Link:http://www.france24.com/en/20130515-china-social-media-tools-embolden-anti-corruption-activists%20

            This video discusses how social media that are used by activists have helped to expose the corruption within China.  Social media plays a vital role in exposing corruption of the Chinese government.  This article discusses Liu Tienan who was exposed through an activist. Liu wields significant power in his position as deputy chief of the planning agency; he is in charge of basically managing the world's second largest economy. He was exposed by a microblogger, Luo Changping. The blogger stated such corrupted acts in which Liu Tienan have done such as accusing the official of lying on his CV, using his position as an advantage for his family, and threatening to kill his mistress, who apparently gave the blogger this information. This exposing of Liu and his corruption is a direct result of the anti-corruption activity that current President Xi Jingping is try to bolster up for the country. The exposing of corrupting by way of social media widely commented upon in official media and was held with a lot of praise and people continue use social media as a means to combat corruption. Web users have exposed Communist Party officials in recent months, blogging about such corrupt activities such as how they use their money to support their mistresses. Liu is the latest high-level official to be investigated for corruption since Xi took power and activists continue to be adamant in exposing high level officials China will be closer to becoming a more transparent government to the people.