My comment:
(a) The report states, "《时代》周刊2月6日的报导说:'五毛党,据说是在网上贴
倾向政府的评论可以得到五毛钱的成千上万的年轻人.'” Here is that article.
Ken Stier, U.S. Girds for a Fight for Internet Freedom. Time, Feb. 6, 2010.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1960477,00.html
("In China, that [America's undermining censorship] means going up against
some 50,000 government employees and the '50 Cent Party' — the many
thousands of youths alleged to be paid 50 cents for each pro-government
comment they post on-line.")
(b) I can not find the AFP report.