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Contrabandwidth

Posted by timothy on from the most-places-bad dept.

tcd004 writes "Kate Palmer writes in Foreign Policy Magazine that an international black market for Internet access has arisen in many authoritarian countries who keep their populations offline. Savvy black marketers in cybercafes, universities, private homes, and elsewhere are exploiting technological loopholes to circumvent government filters and charge fees for access. According to OpenNet Initiative, a nonprofit that tracks banned sites, visiting a single website in Saudi Arabia can cost anywhere from $26 to $67. And as censorship spreads, the prices are only going up." It's just a few paragraphs, but thought provoking.

5 of 270 comments (clear)

  1. YES"!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I'M FIRST!!!

    All your base are belong to me.

  2. Re:When /. is blacklisted by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Your just jealous.

    Remember, in Soviet Ruska, slashdot loves YOU!

  3. Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I for one, welcome our new black market overlords.

  4. Re:that's expensive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    The real thing is: what if your democratic country (like... the USA for example!) were to SEND you to such a country for three months of torture?

    Don't laugh, GWB already did it. I wouldn't fuck with the government if I were you, even if it's to help poorer people or make a quick buck out of it.

  5. Re:Thought provoking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    nice troll troll