In this photo released by Chen Mei Family, Chen Mei poses for a photo in Hong Kong in 2018. More than a year after two young men, including Chen Mei, disappeared from their Beijing homes, they are set to be tried Tuesday, May 11, 2021 in a case that illustrates the Chinese government's growing online censorship and sensitivity to any criticism of its COVID-19 response. (Chen Mei Family via AP)

Wei Xiuwen, left, mother of Chen Mei, and Cai Jianli, center, father of Cai Wei stand outside a courthouse as they wait for their children's court cases in Beijing, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Two amateur computer coders taken by police from their Beijing homes last year were standing trial Tuesday in a case that illustrates the Chinese government's growing online censorship and heightened sensitivity to any deviation from the official narrative on its COVID-19 response. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Wei Xiuwen, left, mother of Chen Mei, and Cai Jianli, center, father of Cai Wei arrive outside a courthouse to attend their children's court cases in Beijing, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Two amateur computer coders taken by police from their Beijing homes last year were standing trial Tuesday in a case that illustrates the Chinese government's growing online censorship and heightened sensitivity to any deviation from the official narrative on its COVID-19 response. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Court police vans move into a courthouse in Beijing, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Two amateur computer coders taken by police from their Beijing homes last year were standing trial Tuesday in a case that illustrates the Chinese government's growing online censorship and heightened sensitivity to any deviation from the official narrative on its COVID-19 response. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Wei Xiuwen, mother of Chen Mei, center, talks on phone as she prepares to enter a courthouse to attend her child's court case in Beijing, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Two amateur computer coders taken by police from their Beijing homes last year were standing trial Tuesday in a case that illustrates the Chinese government's growing online censorship and heightened sensitivity to any deviation from the official narrative on its COVID-19 response. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Cai Jianli, right, father of Cai Wei, is followed by Wei Xiuwen, front left, mother of Chen Mei as they arrive to a courthouse to attend their children's court cases in Beijing, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Two amateur computer coders taken by police from their Beijing homes last year were standing trial Tuesday in a case that illustrates the Chinese government's growing online censorship and heightened sensitivity to any deviation from the official narrative on its COVID-19 response. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

In this photo released by a friend of Cai Wei, Cai Wei poses for a photo in Beijing in June, 2018. More than a year after two young men, including Cai Wei, disappeared from their Beijing homes, they are set to be tried Tuesday, May 11, 2021 in a case that illustrates the Chinese government's growing online censorship and sensitivity to any criticism of its COVID-19 response. (Friend of Cai Wei via AP)