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SMS, SARS, And Censorship

Posted by timothy on from the beware-the-email-centralizers dept.

angkor writes with a link to this article about "How SMS messaging in China forced the government to acknowledge the 'fatal flu in Guangdong.' And the steps the Chinese government is taking to make sure it does not happen again."

7 of 283 comments (clear)

  1. I can see their reasons by Keri+Immos · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, I think it's perfectly understandable that the Chinese government block these SMS messages. It allows them to control their own country, instead of having to deal with rumor-spreading rabble rousers. Also, 120 million people hearing about this via SMS is small compared to the overall population of China, which is somewhere a little above one billion. That's a similar percentage to the 20-some million in the states who have heard about the penis length crisis.

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  2. Chinese Government makes sure no one uses SMS by weeble · · Score: 3, Funny

    Pesky citizens allowing the truth to get out!!!

    They closed down the Internet Cafes!

    The Government now need to remove all mobile phones.

    Breaking news is that they may ban speach altogether

    :-)

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    1. Re:Chinese Government makes sure no one uses SMS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      They don't need to ban speach. I can't understand a word they're saying anyway!

  3. China shops at Villian Supply by Michael's+a+Jerk! · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Good folks at Villain Supply are selling a VAGUE, PANIC-PROVOKING COMMUNICABLE DISEASE for a mere US$149,999.99.

    As the age of SARS has proven, nothing scares the gullible, scientifically illiterate population like a vague, panic-provoking communicable disease. Just tack a scary acronym onto any poorly-defined set of flu-like symptoms, and watch the fun begin.

    Your Vague, Panic-Provoking Communicable Disease comes with several medical journal articles identifying the disease in the most non-specific terms possible, a batch of press releases, and 25% ownership of a face mask factory.

    Mod me down if you must, but I couldn't resist.

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  4. Re:and SMS is bad because??? by mizukami · · Score: 3, Funny
    Granted my neighbors car kills more ppl per year than SARS does


    Your neighbor's car kills over 1000 people per year? Man, your neighbor needs some serious driving lessons...
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  5. Re:China and Human Rights Abuse by gazbo · · Score: 5, Funny
    You're new round here aren't you.

    On Slashdot, deaths, famine and the routine detentian and torture of political prisoners, breaching basic human rights, is insignificant next to the fact they can't "share" music on Kazaa.

  6. Remember the old BBSes? by Shillo · · Score: 3, Funny

    1'v h33rd dat g0v7's l15t3|\|1|\|g. Wh4ts 4ll di5 54r5 th1|\|g? 4nyw3y, l3t d3m c3n5or th15!

    Although I suspect this might be tad more difficult with Chinese letters. ;)

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