In 2003, four young Chinese men were handed out prison sentences due to their participation in the online forum New Youth Study Group, which discussed ways in which China might advance and prosper. They were charged with subverting state power and given sentences of between 8 and 10 years. Friends of these young men started the New Youth 4 group to try to get their friends out of prison.

Across the world, something was happening that New Youth 4 coordinator thought could have a direct effect on what he was doing in China. In February 2007, the Egyptian blogger Kareem