Tuesday, October 17, 2006
An Internet with Limits
The article entitled, “Face to Face with the Great Firewall of China,” revealed how far some governments are willing to go to control the Internet and what its users can access.
The Chinese government monitors Internet traffic and restricts people from accessing certain Web sites. Michael Geist had difficulty accessing common news sites like Google News and even his email messages during his visit to Beijing. It became clear that the Chinese system was blocking these sites with a “filtering system that employs 30,000 people to regularly monitor Internet traffic and content” thereby cutting off the connection. In addition to censoring the Internet, the Chinese government has “shut down thousands of Internet cafes.” It seems that the Chinese government feels threatened by the Internet and imposes many restrictions to prevent its people from accessing information that could potentially ruin the Chinese government’s reputation.
Unfortunately it seems that Canada also views the Internet as a threat and is beginning to follow China’s lead. It is known that “Canadian law enforcement officials are actively lobbying for a series of ‘lawful access’ reforms that will provide authorities with dramatically increased Internet surveillance powers.”
This article should make Americans thankful for their freedom to access anything on the Internet without the restrictions that China has imposed on its citizens.
The Chinese government monitors Internet traffic and restricts people from accessing certain Web sites. Michael Geist had difficulty accessing common news sites like Google News and even his email messages during his visit to Beijing. It became clear that the Chinese system was blocking these sites with a “filtering system that employs 30,000 people to regularly monitor Internet traffic and content” thereby cutting off the connection. In addition to censoring the Internet, the Chinese government has “shut down thousands of Internet cafes.” It seems that the Chinese government feels threatened by the Internet and imposes many restrictions to prevent its people from accessing information that could potentially ruin the Chinese government’s reputation.
Unfortunately it seems that Canada also views the Internet as a threat and is beginning to follow China’s lead. It is known that “Canadian law enforcement officials are actively lobbying for a series of ‘lawful access’ reforms that will provide authorities with dramatically increased Internet surveillance powers.”
This article should make Americans thankful for their freedom to access anything on the Internet without the restrictions that China has imposed on its citizens.
