Cracking the Great Firewall: Free Speech in China |
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Cracking the Great Firewall - Free Speech in China |
Status of Free Speech The Chinese government has a well-known checkered record with regards to human rights. Despite breakneck economic reforms (WTO negotiations), the government is holding onto its power and resisting taking steps in social reform. At the bottom of the page, there are many human rights resources for China. |
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China's New Great Wall China's Internet use has increased to 48 million users in 2002, from 2 million in 1998 (according to CINIC: China Internet Network Information Center). This is a major step forward for freedom of speech. However, the government has found ways to limit this freedom. It is estimated that 30,000 people are employed by the Chinese government to filter and monitor their citizens' usage of the Internet. 1999 China clamps down on early news and chat services. The dissidents start to exploit the Internet as a communication medium. 2001 Foreign technology investment in China is starting to take off. Yahoo gives in to the governments wishes. Chinese reformers make a declaration of Internet rights for Chinese citizens. 2002 China's great firewall continues to get upgrades. The government also continues to block access from time-to-time of uncensored foreign sites (eg Google) This article focusses on the stifling of the Chinese info-economy but presents many details about the filtering. |
Article 19 Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. from the UN Declaration of Human Rights I have no interest in pushing my beliefs on anybody. However, I believe that freedom of speech is a basic right which empowers all people to determine their own destinies. How can we know what others want until they are able to speak freely? The Internet must be shared with all! What are your views? Please write to me! chris_robson@canada.com |
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Circumventing the Great Firewall Human Rights in China |
China's Great (Fire)wall Is the Chinese government using its great wall to keep foreigners out, or to keep the Chinese people in? |