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China To Plant Internet Police In Top Online Firms

Posted by Soulskill on from the totally-not-sketchy-at-all-no-sir dept.

itwbennett writes: Websites based in China already have to abide by strict provisions for online censorship, and will often delete any content deemed offensive by government censors. But under a new plan announced Tuesday by the Ministry of Public Security security forces will be placed at the offices of the country's major websites, so that they can quickly respond to suspected online crimes. No specific companies were mentioned in the statement put out by the Ministry, but the country's biggest Internet firms include Alibaba Group, Baidu and Tencent.

10 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. And? by gstoddart · · Score: 2, Interesting

    And we're supposed to think this is different from Western governments demanding crypto backdoors, the ability to intercept at the data center, and secret warrants allowing them to demand all info in secret?

    Sorry, but all governments are trending towards fascism, that China is doing this surprises me not even a little.

    What we should be outraged at is the fact the governments of "free" countries are half way to doing the same fucking thing.

    Sure, it's not outright censorship yet ... but give it time.

    The difference is I don't need to give a fuck what the Chinese government does. I have no ability to stop the US government or other western governments doing the same thing, and that does affect me.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:And? by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

      And we're supposed to think this is different from Western governments demanding crypto backdoors, the ability to intercept at the data center, and secret warrants allowing them to demand all info in secret?

      It is different, but the difference is one of degree, not character. These guys will be doing a lot of work to censor everyday speech. Our guys do a little bit of work to target individuals.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:And? by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So, it's good because it's only fascism-lite for now?

      Because, honestly, the fact that it's stepping all over the law and the Constitution to do it tells me there should be a lot more outrage than there is.

      You know, like the nationally endorsed perjury they call "parallel construction" and the police forces which want to hide the fact they illegally use surveillance technology without a warrant?

      I have yet to be convinced they actually only target individuals. In fact, I'm pretty sure what they do amounts to general warrants.

      But, no, let's keep pretending our own governments aren't trying to do the same exact thing and that it's only a little illegal curtailing of our rights and a tiny amount of ignoring due process of law.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    3. Re:And? by gstoddart · · Score: 2

      LOL, I do know that ... but I find it useful to convey the explicit outrage for the slower among us who actually think this is somehow different.

      Far too many people act as if it's really OK because we're the good guys, and miss the entire point.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  2. Re:Not really news... by Penguinisto · · Score: 2

    So wait... you want the government to basically have a say in every major corporation's decision? The same government that is practically owned by the same major corporations?

    Yay recursion?

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
  3. Already happens for large US companies by captaindomon · · Score: 2

    This already happens for large US companies, think Google, Microsoft, Verizon, etc. I'm sure they all have on-site government reps from some major departments to make it easier and quicker to process requests back and forth.

    --
    Just because I can hook a shark from a boat, I do no offer to wrestle it in the water.
    1. Re:Already happens for large US companies by anegg · · Score: 2

      I know because of work that I've done as a government contractor that the IRS has semi-permanent staff located at certain large businesses to aid in resolving audit issues, and similar arrangements are in place between the OCC (banking supervisors) and certain large banks. However, I have never heard of government regulators in place at large web publishers in order to keep them from publishing "inappropriate content" (or to respond quickly if/when they do). You could paint me "very surprised" (practically incredulous) if anyone has evidence of this.

  4. Re:Not really news... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well, that's where the regulatory capture comes in. For some, it's a stated goal.

    In case you haven't been paying attention, it's already happened.

    Lobbyists work for government long enough to stack the deck before they return to being lobbyists. Corporations write the laws which give them the best deal.

    Lather, rinse, repeat.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  5. Our future is China today by AndyKron · · Score: 2

    Our future is China today

  6. Repeal the 3rd Amendment by jfdavis668 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Then we can station troops in peoples homes here in the US. That way we can keep an eye on everyone and prevent crime, movie piracy, terrorism or whatever.