CHINESE CENSORS AT WORK AGAIN
26 December 2008
More threats to the integrity of the Internet
The world's largest Internet population - the Chinese -
were deprived of access to the New York Times last
Friday, according to the newspaper. The cause for the
block was not known, although Chinese authorities have
resumed their unilateral Web censorship activities since
the completeion of the Beijing Olympics earlier this
year.
The Reuters news service confirmed the block, reporting
that when computer users in cities like Beijing,
Shanghai and Guangzhou tried to connect on Friday to NY
Times.com, they received a message that the site was
unavailable. There was no access to the site from
Beijing late on Saturday without the protection of a
virtual private network (VPN).
But the Chinese State Information Office said it had no
information on the blocks. China has repeatedly claimed
that it is within its rights to block websites with
content that is deemed unsuitable or illegal under
Chinese law. Access to the Chinese-language versions of
the BBC, Voice of America and Hong Kong media Ming Pao
News and Asiaweek were blocked early this (December)
month (see previous InfoPowa reports).
The country has an Internet-dedicated department that
polices the medium to remove sensitive content and
posts, warn bloggers who cross the line and block access
to certain sites.
Internet message boards discussing the news inevitably
compared the Chinese approach to the Internet with that
of Kentucky, widely crtiticised for its attempt to seize
and confiscate 141 global domain names. One wag posted:
"Personally, I wish China would confiscate the NYT
domain!"
Online Casino News courtesy of
InfoPowa
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