Chinese authorities have arrested dozens of Tibetans since 2021 for phone and internet-related offences that appear politically motivated, according to a new report released Sunday by US-based rights group Human Rights Watch.
The monitoring group documented more than 60 cases where Tibetans were detained for having “banned content” on their phones or for contacting people outside China, including relatives. The actual number is likely higher, as Chinese authorities do not disclose official data for political offences.
“For Tibetans, simply using a cellphone has become dangerous, and everyday activities like posting a humorous video or contacting loved ones abroad can bring arrest, detention, and torture,” said Maya Wang, associate China director at Human Rights Watch.
The crackdown is related to increased government surveillance, including mass phone searches and mandatory installation of phone apps with built-in surveillance capabilities, along with tightened regulations on data and religion.
The report cited one case where a man was arrested for creating a WeChat group celebrating the birthdays of 80-year-old Buddhist monks, with police claiming it was “illegal” to form such a chat group “without permission”. Others have been arrested for promoting the Tibetan language and opposing Chinese language policies in schools.
The surveillance tactics mirror those used against Uyghurs in East Turkestan, according to the report. Police conduct mass phone searches either using scanning devices or by forcing people to unlock their phones at checkpoints. They also compel residents to download a government “anti-fraud” app that grants authorities access to sensitive user data and device functions.
In a particularly severe case reported by Tibetan exile media, a 38-year-old monk named Losel from Lhasa’s Sera Monastery died in May 2024 after being beaten while in custody. He had been arrested for allegedly “collecting and sending information abroad”.
Chinese authorities have also closed several Tibetan-language websites since 2020, including the popular Luktsang Palyon blog in April 2024. A Tibetan webmaster, Bumpa Gyal, received a seven-year prison sentence in 2022 for providing technical support to Tibetan cultural websites.
Human Rights Watch has called on the Chinese government to respect Tibetans’ rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and religion, and to allow independent monitors access to the region. “Tibetans have not only lost their rights to freely express themselves and to access information, but they are also losing even their basic right to communicate with their loved ones,” Wang said.
