China Targets Tibetans for Phone and Internet Use, Says Rights Group

Human Rights Watch has reported that over 60 Tibetans have been arrested since 2021 for using phones and the internet in ways deemed politically sensitive by Chinese authorities. Arrests include possessing "banned content" such as references to the Dalai Lama, or contacting people abroad. Surveillance measures include mass phone searches, mandatory spyware apps, and online restrictions on religion. Those detained face harsh punishments, including torture and long prison terms. The group urged China to uphold basic rights and allow international access to Tibetan areas to investigate ongoing abuses. Tibetan exile media corroborated many of the cases.