China Gleefully Uses UK Desire For Censorship To Validate Its Own Censorship
from the who-didn't-see-that-coming? dept
We've talked repeatedly of the blatant hypocrisy of many Western nations talking about the importance of internet freedom and condemning China (and others) for their internet censorship... while still wanting to censor at home. As we've warned, such efforts only give repressive regimes who censor the "cover" they need to continue. And, of course, with UK politicians looking to censor the internet to try to stop the riots, China has quickly used this as validation for its Great Firewall censorship:Apparently the rioters used social media, like Twitter, Facebook and the Blackberry messenger system and Prime Minister David Cameron said Thursday he's looking at banning potential troublemakers from using the online services.In other words, "look, the UK is doing the same thing we are." You can argue how this is "different" all you want, and it won't change a thing. Internet censorship like what's being proposed in the UK only serves to make China more convinced that its own repressive censorship is the same sort of "balance." The UK government has now completely lost any moral high ground in arguing against internet censorship.
The British government, once an ardent advocate of absolute Internet freedom, has thus made a U-turn over its stance towards web-monitoring.
Communications tools such as Facebook and cellphones also played a delicate role in the massive social upheaval earlier this year in north Africa and neighboring west Asian countries, whose governments then imposed targeted censorship over message flows on the Internet.
In a speech delivered in Kuwait in February, the British prime minister, however, argued that freedom of expression should be respected "in Tahrir Square as much as Trafalgar Square."
Learning a hard lesson from bitter experience, the British government eventually recognized that a balance needs to be struck between freedom and the monitoring of social media tools.
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Filed Under: censorship, china, free speech, uk
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Who cares?
Look, I know you freetards are all about an 'open web' (free to infringe on whatever copyrights you want!!!1!ONE!!), but the days of the Internet Wild West are over. China realized that it had to end before others (good for them, even if I don't agree with most of their government policies), but the rest of the countries are coming around to the idea and China is just pointing out that they were right.
The party is over guys. Accept it.
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You do realize that China has no First Amendment equivalent, right?
You do realize that you're an idiot troll, right?
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You do realize that I already said I don't agree with most of their government policies, right?
You do realize that if I am a troll then you fell for it and fed me, right?
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Wow, that's so wrong, it isn't even false.
The Chinese government, unlike the RIAA and MPAA, is willing to extend its efforts to new technologies. Even though the Chinese government suppressed free speech and a free press for many years before "the internet", it has noticed the rise of free speech using internet-enabled communications, and attempted to suppress that speech as well.
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Right back at ya.
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LOL. "The transition from cocktail party to raiding party was a surprisingly easy one" -Douglas Adams
The party doesn't end, just the people who have no idea how to party.
;-P
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Also, seemed relevant/humorous.
Funny anecdote, I do not own a sofa though I do have a wicker loveseat out on the balcony...
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2/10 Unconvincing trolling. Would not feed again.
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Enjoy being on the same side as China when it comes to free speech, bro. I'll be over here in America enjoying my First Amendment right to call you one of the RIAA's housebitches.
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What China is pointing out is that, when push comes to shove, "unlimited freedom" isn't good for the people at all times. The UK is starting to understand that the methods of communications created may be the same ones used to undermine the very existence of the country. China understands this, and considering that they are a communist dictatorship of sorts, they are even more at risk when this happens.
I don't think China is "gleeful" (I don't see that anywhere Mike, care to point out the glee?), I think they are obviously profiting a bit from the fact that the most open of countries has realizes that there sometimes needs to be some limits.
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Who gets to decide what situations demand limiting privileges? Who gets to deicde what methods of communications can be used to undermine the very existence of the country?
There's some people I know I wouldn't trust with these decisions.
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
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Freedom with border is like you being free to walk around a prison cell as long as you stay in it.
In this case, is more like: hide the shit under the rug and hope nobody will notice it. What a joke!
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There are no limits for freedom but one: do not do unto others as you will not have done unto you!
Freedom with border is like you being free to walk around a prison cell as long as you stay in it.
In this case, is more like: hide the shit under the rug and hope nobody will notice it. What a joke!
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Then why is everyone still partying?
You're like that one guy in the corner at a party, yelling "Everyone go home!" and being totally ignored by everyone else.
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JUST BECUZ ITS UR HOUSE DOZNT MEEN I GOTTA STOP TEH PARTYZ!!!
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More like the homeless person that wandered in and people took pity on so they allowed him to stay.
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I don't know what you're smoking buddy, but I'll take some. Masnick, you may wanna tell these people to get off of your side of the argument. They're making you look bad!
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Let me see if I can help you follow along
1: btr1701 compared YOU to the one guy at the party yelling
2: you responded that you were yelling because it is your house
3: I countered with no it is not your house you are the homeless person that the party guests took pity on.
4: you made some kind of quantum leap to the rich and powerful and threw in a freetard and Masnick for good measure.
Now while it is possible that you are in fact one of the "rich and powerful the people who control the country" your deportment on this site, your willingness to stoop to name calling, and the general lack of critical thinking skills you demonstrate over and over again tend indicate you are not.
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I award you an A+. Phenomenal trolling.
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We've been doing this for decades, and we're very good at it. We know how to tunnel traffic, anonymize it, spread it, redirect it, encrypt it -- and when necessary, how to move it with a station wagon full of tapes/disks/DVDs/USB sticks. We know how to build servers that will fit in your pocket, we know how to use point-to-point connections, we know how to build ad hoc networks, we know all kinds of things.
And before you say "...but the government will..." you should keep something in mind: the techies who work for those governments? They were our students. We are still the masters.
Over? No. The wild west is just beginning. I know that frightens you, but you are completely powerless to stop it.
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The only thing that can reasonably even attempt to accomplish that which you seem to support is a full perimeter shutdown. If you do not know this or if you do not understand this then you are part of the problem. What is the problem? Well the problem is yours and it closely resembles a complete and thorough inability to evolve. You would rather suppress than think. You deem control as successful governance.
We will not be controlled. We will route you and all that you stand for.. or we will die. Who are we? We are members of the human race that recognize what is right and what is wrong without being told. We are people that believe that every human has a voice, at any cost, at every moment. Those moments may include rioting, peace, war, suppression, agreement, disagreement, rebellion and revolution.
If you fail to come to terms with the fact that more and more voices are being heard every day and you advocate for silence AT ANY MOMENT then you WILL fail and you will fall.
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It is Friday, don't you have better things to do than read about something you dislike and comment on it just to be contrarian? Are you actually arguing oppression is good for the people (whether it be China or the UK or the US)? You're right that just because China does something doesn't mean we have to do the opposite, but if China does something oppressive, you bet your ass we better do the opposite.
"Look, I know you freetards are all about an 'open web' (free to infringe on whatever copyrights you want!!!1!ONE!!), but the days of the Internet Wild West are over. China realized that it had to end before others (good for them, even if I don't agree with most of their government policies), but the rest of the countries are coming around to the idea and China is just pointing out that they were right."
What the hell does this have to do with copyrights? This is about allowing people to communicate without having to fear their government for it. You know something on which the US was founded. And yes those in power of the Chinese government figured out that oppression of the people is a power they can use to stay in power. So when someone in power in a country that isn't oppressive has an reflexive response to impose oppressive ideas so that they too do not lose power, it should make you angry, because the direction China is pointing is not the right direction for the people, but for those in power.
"The party is over guys. Accept it."
You'll have to find me cold and dead before the freedom party is over.
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Cutting on people's freedom of expression will only press harder towards a full scale rebellion and ultimately start a GLOBAL STREET WAR which will make far more victims than the world wars together. Failure to see this is the sign of a retarded mind and a lack of knowledge basis to look back at history's lessons and learning something from them.
And everybody knows that you can't stop a river from its destiny: you might divert it for a time but it will eventually overcome obstacles and find its way beck to its path. You cannot stop the future from where it is going no matter how hard you try.
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Which is amazing because this issue has nothing to do with the industry. Whether a government censors Facebook during an 'emergency' has jack all to do with the nonsense they usually shill for.
I guess it's just become reflexive for them to take the contrary position to whatever Mike proposes, whether it makes sense or not. If he said water is wet, they'd come running in and scream, "You wetards have had your way for far too long! The party's over and water is now dry as dust. Just accept it!"
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Finally telling the truth
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The UK governments (or elements of them) have been supporting web censorship since at least 1996.
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Beyond this point there be trolls...
It's survival instinct.
The British government's fascade of freedom is crumbling under the very real threat of death... of uncontrollable, unstoppable riots in the streets.
It's easy to do the right thing when things are easy. So much more difficult to do the righ thing when things are tough.
And we're all just one step away from barbarism.
That's why the 2nd amendment is so important in the US. When the government fails to protect its citizens... they must protect themselves.
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Re: Beyond this point there be trolls...
I often hear about how our culture has evolved so much and how no longer could we do the terrible things of humanities past. Apparently some people don't open their eyes and see we are the same; we just have better ways to veil our humanity and greed is a big part of our culture today.
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Malaysia police use the London Riots as an excuse to use Tear Gas and Water Cannon against protesters.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/international/malaysian-cop-uses-uk-riots-to-justify-c rackdown/458805
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or infringement whatever
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To lay the blame there, on that alone, is to lack critical thinking skills. Criminal behavior does not a good catalyst make. Good fuel perhaps. Some might say excellent fuel, especially those that would use events to constrict and suppress.
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Anyway... Back to the article
Of course banning people from communication on the internet isn't going to stop a riot, similar riots of gone on in the past without aid of the internet (watts riot, 1965 as an example). The only thing that is going to stop riots is addressing the reason behind them before they begin, but lately modern countries seem to think banning people from forms of communication are plausible substitutes. And as Mike pointed out only give China more ground in their arguments.
I don't know about you, but I don't really want to live in a country with as little freedoms as china.
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Re: Anyway... Back to the article
The fact that it is even being considered... should be perceived as a threat in and of itself. To act upon it would be treasonous. ... I would add that that should hold true for any governing body. Henceforth and forevermore. la lala
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censorship
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