Red Flag Linux Forced On Chinese Internet Cafes

iamhigh writes "Reports are popping up that Chinese Internet Cafes are being required to switch to Red Flag Linux. Red Flag is China's biggest Linux distro and recently received headlines for their Olympic Edition release. The regulations, effective Nov. 5th, are aimed at combating piracy and require only that cafes install either a legal version of Windows or Red Flag. However, Radio Free Asia says that cafes are being forced to install Red Flag even if they have legal versions of Windows. Obviously questions about spying and surveillance have arisen, with no comment from the Chinese Government."

Comments

Spy and Malware.

[Erris]

There are so many levels of network spying in China that we can assume this move has entirely practical motivations. Windows botnets let anyone spy on everyone and cover criminal behavior, the Chinese know this first hand. They also make network traffic problems. Still, unless Windows is entirely eliminated, these problems will continue to exist.

Software freedom is impossible without network freedom anyway. Do you really think you can get a clean copy of Debian off the Chinese internet? The view from the average citizen's perspective remains grim.