Tibet album triggers iTunes firewall in China

Access to Apple's iTunes online music store in China appears to be blocked and the reason may be a Tibet-themed album created by an activist.

Users in China say they've been unable to download music since Monday.

That's the day the Art of Peace Foundation announced a compilation album, Songs for Tibet, featuring stars such as Alanis Morisette, Damien Rice, Sting and Garbage.

"We issued a release saying that over 40 [Olympic] athletes downloaded the album in an act of solidarity, and that's what triggered it. Then everything got blocked," said Michael Wohl, executive director of the New York City-based group.

Wohl says a majority of the athletes, whom he refuses to name, got the album before entering China, but "some in Beijing did download, and I think that's what spooked the Chinese government," he said.

Wohl doesn't believe it's a coincidence the iTunes site was blocked soon after that announcement, though he doesn't have proof of it.

There's been no word from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which regulates Internet use.

Meanwhile, Apple acknowledged that customers were having trouble but did not divulge the reason.

"We are aware of the logon problems but we have no comment at the moment," said Huang Yuna, an Apple spokeswoman in Beijing.

Protests during Olympic torch run

Violent protests broke out in March in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa as Tibetans demanded independence from China. The country has been under Chinese rule since its troops invaded in 1950.

Pro-Tibet demonstrators were also able to disrupt the Olympic torch run in various countries.

Chinese officials say the Himalayan region has been its territory for centuries and have vilified the Dalai Lama, claiming he's behind all the protests and is trying to destabilize the region.

The Dalai Lama, considered by many to be Tibet's conscience and spiritual leader, says he only wants greater autonomy for the region.

 

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