Lu Wei (politician)

Lu Wei (simplified Chinese: 鲁炜; traditional Chinese: 魯煒; pinyin: Lǔ Wěi; January 1960 – March 16, 2018) was a Chinese politician who served as the Director of the State Internet Information Office (SIIO) and Vice-Minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China from 2013 to 2016. As the chief internet censor for China, he played a significant role in shaping and implementing the country's internet policies and censorship regime.

Born in Feixi County, Anhui province, Lu Wei began his career as a teacher. He later worked for the Guangxi Daily newspaper and Xinhua News Agency, where he served in various editorial and managerial roles.

Lu Wei's rise to prominence coincided with the increasing importance of internet governance in China. As Director of the SIIO, he oversaw the implementation of increasingly strict regulations on online content, including censorship of dissenting voices, limitations on foreign media, and promotion of socialist core values online. His policies were aimed at maintaining social stability and preventing the spread of information deemed harmful or subversive by the Chinese Communist Party.

Lu Wei was known for his strong stance on internet sovereignty and his advocacy for a "clean cyberspace." He argued that each country should have the right to govern its own internet and that online content should adhere to local laws and regulations. He also actively promoted China's vision of internet governance on the international stage.

In November 2017, Lu Wei was placed under investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) on suspicion of "serious disciplinary violations," a common euphemism for corruption. He was formally expelled from the Communist Party in February 2018.

In June 2018, Lu Wei was sentenced to 14 years in prison for bribery. The court found him guilty of accepting bribes worth over 32 million yuan (approximately $5 million USD) during his time in various government positions. His downfall was seen as part of a broader anti-corruption campaign under President Xi Jinping. His legacy remains controversial due to his pivotal role in shaping China's restrictive internet environment.