Blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng was placed under house arrest by the Chinese government in retaliation for his work on human rights issues. The dictatorship has also targeted and persecuted members of his family, including his brother, his parents, and his nephew. Chen’s story isn’t unique: this is the fate of any activist or dissident in China under the rule of the Communist Party rule. However, Chen is confident that new technologies, especially the internet and social media, will empower the Chinese people to fight for change and for their freedom.