{{Use American English|date = February 2019}} {{Short description|Overseas Chinese news and community website}} {{Use mdy dates|date= February 2019}} {{Infobox website | name = Boxun | logo = Boxun-logo.png | logo_size = <!-- default 250px --> | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | screenshot = | collapsible = <!-- set as "on", "y", etc, otherwise omit/leave blank --> | collapsetext = <!-- collapsible area's heading (default "Screenshot"); omit/leave blank if collapsible not set --> | background = <!-- for collapsetext heading; default grey (gainsboro) --> | screenshot_size = <!-- default 300px --> | screenshot_alt = | caption = | url = {{Official URL}} | commercial = <!-- "Yes", "No" or leave blank --> | type = Overseas Chinese community website<br>Blog | registration = | language = Chinese | num_users = | content_license = <!-- or: | content_licence = --> | programming_language = | owner = <!-- or: | owners = --> | author = <!-- or: creator / authors / creators --> | editor = <!-- or: | editors = --> | launch_date = <!-- {{start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} --> | revenue = | current_status = Online | footnotes = }}
'''Boxun''' ({{zh|t=博訊|s=博讯|p=Bóxùn}}) was an aggregation website and blog, which focused on alleged political scandals in China.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/is-china-behind-hacker-attack-on-north-carolina-website-that-covered-political-scandal.amp|agency=Fox news|title=Is China behind hacker attack on North Carolina website that covered political scandal?|website=Fox News|date=April 20, 2012}}</ref> '''Boxun''' was partly backed by the China Free Press project, which is partially funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, a US-funded organization.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/apr/20/cyber-attack-boxun-com-bo-xilai|agency=The Guardian|title=Cyber-attack cripples US website covering Bo Xilai scandal|date=April 20, 2012}}</ref>
==Founding and purpose== Boxun allowed anyone to submit news to the website, which has resulted in a large number of articles remaining anonymous. Boxun was created by Meicun "Watson" Meng, who studied in the United States after working for two multinational companies in China. The Boxun servers were run from an office in North Carolina since 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/searchengine/blog/2007/08/blog_trouble_in_big_china.html |title=Blog Trouble in Big China |publisher=CBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219121554/http://www.cbc.ca/searchengine/blog/2007/08/blog_trouble_in_big_china.html|archive-date=December 19, 2007}}</ref>
==Critics== While the organization claimed it was independently run and audited, critics – including German leftist magazine konkret – have suggested that it was simply a tool of U.S. foreign policy.<ref>Schmidt, Christian Y. "Neuigkeiten aus der Hope Valley Road. Der Westen hofft auf ein Übergreifen der arabischen Aufstandsbewegung auf China. Und hilft ein bißchen nach." konkret. 4/2011, p. 26-27.</ref> Boxun.com is blocked in mainland China.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cecc.gov/pages/virtualAcad/index.phpd?showsingle=34474 |title=Chinese Authorities Continue to Shut Down, Block Web Sites |publisher=Congressional Executive Commission on China}}</ref>
==Defamation case== In 2012, Boxun falsely reported that actress Zhang Ziyi was paid $100 million to sleep with top Chinese officials. Zhang sued Boxun in a US court for defamation. In December 2013, Boxun settled the case after agreeing to pay an undisclosed amount to Zhang and issue a front-page apology.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-25426869|title=China's Zhang Ziyi wins sex claims case against Boxun|date=December 18, 2013|newspaper=BBC}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
Category:American news websites