Why did Ai Weiwei accuse officials of withholding information after the Sichuan earthquake?

Following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Ai Weiwei accused officials of withholding information because he suspected that shoddy construction practices were responsible for the deaths of thousands of children in collapsed public schools.1

Because the government failed to release official details regarding these fatalities, Ai mobilized his online readership to conduct a "citizen investigation" to uncover the truth. His efforts sought to hold authorities accountable for the structural failures that led to such a significant loss of life. This act of transparency and advocacy was part of his broader commitment to challenging government corruption and injustice, which ultimately led to increased surveillance and harassment by authorities.1