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Is China's "Great Firewall" a Fraud?

Posted by kdawson on from the leaky-filter dept.

An anonymous reader notes an article up on ScienceBlogs that calls into question the efficacy of the touted "Great Firewall of China" — a program by the government of the People's Republic of China to block users from reaching content it finds objectionable. Researchers at UC Davis and the University of New Mexico have performed experiments on the Great Firewall, sending test content to destinations inside China and observing what gets through. They conclude that the Great Firewall is more of a "panopticon" that encourages self-censorship through the perception that users may be being watched, rather than a true firewall.

10 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Haha had us all fooled! by MrNaz · · Score: 5, Funny

    That Chinese government! They like to kid. Remember Tiananmen Square? What a hoot!

    --
    I hate printers.
    1. Re:Haha had us all fooled! by baldass_newbie · · Score: 3, Funny

      The only other difference is that China puts dissidents to death.
      Here, we give them news and comedy shows.
      Oh, the irony.

      --
      The opposite of progress is congress
    2. Re:Haha had us all fooled! by Fred_A · · Score: 1, Funny

      Weren't the SS originally called the ß BTW ?

      *ducks*

      --

      May contain traces of nut.
      Made from the freshest electrons.
  2. totally ineffective by flyingsquid · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's completely ineffective and a waste of resources. All the Mongolian internet users just look for a weak point and then pour through in hordes.

  3. Dirty secret by appleLaserWriter · · Score: 2, Funny

    What they don't want you to know is that it is painted with lead paint!

  4. How Foucauldlian... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In communist China, YOU watch YOU!

  5. Re:I live in China ... by i_b_don · · Score: 2, Funny

    > I live in China. I have always been amused reading about the "Great
    > Firewall of China" in the Western media. It really isn't that big
    > of a deal. Very little is blocked, other than porn. (!!!)

    -and you call this "not a big deal"??? Damn man, you're missing out!

    d

    --
    all language nazi's will burne in heil!
  6. Re:I Live in China Too: Great Firewall is REAL by anilg · · Score: 2, Funny

    THANKS for sharing ALL that info with US. We will be SURE to remember ALL of this the NEXT time we talk about THE great firewall of CHINA,

    --
    http://dilemma.gulecha.org - My philospohical short film.
  7. Re:How could they monitor everyone? by steveo777 · · Score: 2, Funny

    And yet, that doesn't stop people from driving down the road with an inflatable doll in the passenger seat...

    As long as it's not being used for any other purpose at the time...

    --
    This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
  8. I'm posting from China and would like to say... by ttapper04 · · Score: 2, Funny

    This post has been blocked.

    -Your friendly Chinise Government.