*********** Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 13:17:04 +0800 From: John Tanner <tannerat_private> To: declanat_private Subject: Net censorship news from Asia, part 852 Hi Declan, Some more Net censorship updates from Asia for Politech, again originating from China and Malaysia: Item 1: A Chinese dissident who was convicted in December 2000 for allegedly advocating the downfall of the communist party on the Net has lost his appeal. http://english.hk.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/technology/afp/article.html?s=hke/headlines/010523/technology/afp/Chinese_court_turns_down_Internet_dissident_s_appeal__rights_center.html Item 2: In a weird double-twist, a Chinese man has been arrested for for posting posting anti-American (not anti-CCP) essays written by his father on a Web site. http://english.hk.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/technology/afp/article.html?s=hke/headlines/010523/technology/afp/China_detains_son_of_anti-American_writer_over_Internet_posting.html It's worth adding that this is the kind of Net censorship we're seeing from China these days -- it's not about keeping people from accessing Western news media or porn sites, although the government's official line discourages both, and police stage the occasional crackdown on cybercafes to make their feelings known. But, according to a number of users and analysts I've spoken with over the last couple of months, with Net usage on the rise and less incentive for users to seek out overseas Web sites because of the spectacular growth of Chinese-language portals and content at home, the Chinese government is worried more about what domestic users are posting on forums and Web sites than what they're downloading from CNN.com. Item 3: Malaysian on-line news portal Malaysiakini.com has been given a stern warning by a junior minister that the government will take action against it if the portal's reports cause racial tension and undermine national security. The official state-sanctioned story: http://www.bernama.com/general/ge2305_13.htm An AFP report: http://english.hk.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/technology/afp/article.html?s=hke/headlines/010523/technology/afp/Malaysia_tells_Internet_newspaper_not_to_endanger_security.html Okay. Hope this is useful. Regards, John Tanner Global Technology Editor Telecom Asia/Wireless Asia Advanstar Telecoms Group Tel: +852 2589 1328 Fax: +852 2559 7002 Email: tannerat_private URL: www.telecomasia.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if it remains intact. To subscribe, visit http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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