One may find part 2 of
this article here:
From my write up in part
2, CCTV actually had a pretty good target. There are about 4 or 5 3rd party
companies that somehow grab the user information as contained in the cookie
file through back door. It is not very clear how those 3rd party company did
it.
CCTV actually make this
reporting much weaker by turning it into a hit piece against Netease. It is not
clear why will CCTV want to do that.
I can only think of four
reasons why will CCTV wants to do this.
1st possibility: It is
part of a larger plot. Government is trying to send a signal to Netease and its
News editors. Netease News is famous in China for being the "News with
Attitude". But the possibility for this is very low. Government can just
summon NTES's CEO to Beijing for some tongue lashing. In addition, other
government agencies would have gotten into the act. It had been 5 days and no
other government agencies had any corresponding measures against NTES. Therefore,
this possibility is very low.
2nd possibility: CCTV's
315 editor is not professional. Actually, this is not the case. The overall
CCTV shows may be of low quality. But the show 315 is actually of high quality.
I personally think this possibility is also very low.
3rd possibility: CCTV's
315 show actually have more materials in their pocket. I also consider this
possibility is very low. Why would any editor want to make their show of low
quality to begin with? That doesn't sense at all. One could hold on to some
evidence while still coming out with high quality product. 315 show editor is
too smart for that.
4th possibility: This is
the one I considered to be by far the most probable. CCTV's editors coming out
with a very good investigative reporting on how unscrupulous 3rd party
companies stole personal user information through the back doors of China's
four major portals (Sina, Sohu, Ntes, Tencent). But the editors is being overruled
by their managers. Sina, Sohu, and others purchased advertising slots on CCTV.
All except one, Netease, are major purchasers of CCTV's advertising slots. For
commercial reason, CCTV managers forced 315 editors to change the original
program into a hit piece against Netease. I think the reason why the central
themes so ambiguous is because 315 show editors have to change the focus of the
show at the last second. The show never address the central themes. Why does
NTES's emails have anything to do with a bunch of 3rd party companies steal
users' cookie file? Why will NTES want to let those 3rd party companies steal
their internal company information?
Of course, the above are
only my conjecture.
Finally, Netease announced
its official position on 3/16/2013:
I will translate below:
"Netease always
protect user's privacy. As an company listed on NASDAQ, Netease has very strict
system and technology to safe guard users privacy. We always obey all laws and
industrial standards. We completely forbid any Netease organizations or Netease
employees to read users email content. We always protect all citizens'
constitutional rights of free and private information.
After reviewing CCTV's investigative
reporting, and to completely remove any doubts by our users, Netease had established
a special investigative team to investigate this matter. We will provide the
result of our investigation at the earliest time. Netease wants to thank our
users and CCTV for their attention and criticism. We offer our utmost gratitude
for your continuous oversight."
Personally, I think it is
a great reply. While I am pretty sure Ntes read the content of their users
emails, it is machine that does that, not any individuals or organizations.
China is still a communist
country. CCTV has the obligation to provide it users "proper guidance and
to educate its users so the users can have the proper thoughts". CCTV and
Netease News are not equal.
CCTV is still the most
watched programs by far in China. Netease really shall spend some money to buy
advertising slots on CCTV's shows. Hopefully, that will be the end of that.
end.
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