iTunes Blocked After Tibetan Album Goes Online

Music lovers in China complain that they cannot download tracks from iTunes, after an album calling for greater rights for Tibetans was placed on the site. Many of those writing on an Apple support forum blame censorship, although others say the problem could be a technical one.

The development follows the authorities' relaxation of internet censorship to meet a promise to the International Olympic Committee that journalists would be able to report freely from Beijing - although many Tibet-related sites have remained off limits. Controls on internet content can often vary from day to day, or even hour by hour.

Kate Saunders, of the International Campaign for Tibet, said complaints appeared to have begun shortly after Tibetan groups issued a press release saying that more than 40 athletes had downloaded the Songs for Tibet album, which includes tracks by artists including Sting, Moby and Suzanne Vega.

Produced by the Art of Peace Foundation, it was launched on iTunes on August 5, three days before the opening ceremony of the games. Shortly afterwards, the officially run website chinanews.org.cn reported that angry web users were "rallying to denounce Apple" because the album was available for download and were calling for a ban on the contributors entering China.

Apple acknowledged that there was an iTunes access problem. "We've seen the situation, but can't offer any more information," Apple's Beijing publicist, Yuna Huang, said.

On an Apple support forum, one user posted what she said was a response from Apple, reading: "iTunes is not being blocked in China from our end, but access to the iTunes store IS restricted in some areas in China."