Totally agree. As an expat Beijing resident with press connections the story moves by the day. Bottom line is that while generally open at the moment (i.e. in the Olympic press center) there are still sites that are blocked including a China blog at a major US news outlet.
The Chinese generally allow VPN but if you go to certain sites you will still be stopped. Free proxy servers are tissue paper and generally not useful. The authorities, from observation and experience, can and do target individual computers.
The Chinese are getting cleverer and more subtle at "shaping" the internet landscape and where you can go.
Overall bottom line is that whatever little concessions might be made to the press center users the control of internet access will get worse not better. People who give credit to the Chinese for the access they have allowed are living in lalaland. The Chinese are grudging every concession and reneging whenever they can.
Yes, the Chinese campaigners will very probably get an unfriendly reception back home. China is doing its best to be warm and cuddly but on some things it simply will not change. But hang on a second. The reason we found out about Yahoo's cooperation with the Chinese authorities was that there was nothing in Chinese (HK) regulations to stop that information from being made known to the public. The big difference is that the US (and other western countries) have similar if not identical regulations and laws. The US Patriot Act makes it a felony to admit in any way any cooperation with the authorities or any action those authorities take regarding you and your use of Yahoo services. Its absolutely illegal, its an American state secret. Unlike China (and HK where the original request to Yahoo (HK) was made) in America you are not allowed to know if the authorities have requested information on you (this also applies to your local library where your book borrowing habits must be made secretly available to the authorities upon secret request). Companies like Yahoo are obliged to obey the law of the place they have a presence and that means handing over information when requested according to law. I know it feels good to have a hack at the Chinese but really in terms of law and regulation they are marginally better than the USPA where you cannot know of any official interest. So, shine a light on yourselves before you cry "Sic Semper Tyrannis".
Slashdot Mirror
China Does U-Turn, Lifts Ban On Certain Websites
Title is way too optimistic.
Totally agree. As an expat Beijing resident with press connections the story moves by the day. Bottom line is that while generally open at the moment (i.e. in the Olympic press center) there are still sites that are blocked including a China blog at a major US news outlet. The Chinese generally allow VPN but if you go to certain sites you will still be stopped. Free proxy servers are tissue paper and generally not useful. The authorities, from observation and experience, can and do target individual computers. The Chinese are getting cleverer and more subtle at "shaping" the internet landscape and where you can go. Overall bottom line is that whatever little concessions might be made to the press center users the control of internet access will get worse not better. People who give credit to the Chinese for the access they have allowed are living in lalaland. The Chinese are grudging every concession and reneging whenever they can.
Yes, the Chinese campaigners will very probably get an unfriendly reception back home. China is doing its best to be warm and cuddly but on some things it simply will not change. But hang on a second. The reason we found out about Yahoo's cooperation with the Chinese authorities was that there was nothing in Chinese (HK) regulations to stop that information from being made known to the public. The big difference is that the US (and other western countries) have similar if not identical regulations and laws. The US Patriot Act makes it a felony to admit in any way any cooperation with the authorities or any action those authorities take regarding you and your use of Yahoo services. Its absolutely illegal, its an American state secret. Unlike China (and HK where the original request to Yahoo (HK) was made) in America you are not allowed to know if the authorities have requested information on you (this also applies to your local library where your book borrowing habits must be made secretly available to the authorities upon secret request). Companies like Yahoo are obliged to obey the law of the place they have a presence and that means handing over information when requested according to law. I know it feels good to have a hack at the Chinese but really in terms of law and regulation they are marginally better than the USPA where you cannot know of any official interest. So, shine a light on yourselves before you cry "Sic Semper Tyrannis".