Slashdot Mirror
China Plans Surveillance System for Internet Cafes
nasty writes "According to Interfax China, China will install a special surveillance system in order to prevent 'unhealthy information and websites'. All internet cafes in China will have installed the new system by the end of 2004. This according to China's Ministry of Culture (MOC). The system requires the customers personal information, such as name, age, and their national citizen identification number, before they are allowed to log onto the Internet." Reader Dr.Hair submits another blurb about the system.
Yeah... like China is any more free than America. We vote, someone wins - does our vote mean anything at the margin?... no, so as an individual we have no power selecting government. We just get hearded as 2 or 3 heards, in China the shepherd doesn't have to worry.
Such a lack of freedom exists in America too - do you think any and every communication is not monitored? Does what you say matter... not really, the communication path is logged, evidence doesn't matter when there is suspicion and assicoation, you can SSH all you like, but if you've ever emailed Bob and Bob's friend sets off a load of pipe bombs they will be on you, SSH or not.
You have no democratic power. You have no freedom from association. You merely have the ability to exist, do the best you can within your constraints, to herd with others. Same the world over. At least in China they have romanticism of freedom, we are just decieved.