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China's Great Firewall Back Up

Censorship, relaxed during Olympics, on rise again as economy slows

By Ambreen Ali,  Newser User

Posted Dec 16, 2008 3:43 PM CST

(Newser) – China has quietly reinstated the web censorship lifted during its Olympics image cleanup, the New York Times reports today. As in the past, the tightening comes as growing unemployment raises the government’s fears of social unrest. The government defended its right to censor sites that violate Chinese secession laws, which apparently includes BBC, Voice of America, and several Hong Kong publications.

China’s government suggested it was being unfairly targeted for doing “just as what other countries are doing.” Britain and Australia have limited access to online child porn, and Germany bans sites linked to Nazi activity. China’s ban has an inarguably broader reach, and websites are denied appeal. The onus is on sites to “develop conditions for website cooperation,” a spokesman says.

TV crews battled with China over what they would be allowed to show during the Olympics.
TV crews battled with China over what they would be allowed to show during the Olympics.   (AP Photo)
China partly lifted its notorious web ban during the Olympics.
China partly lifted its notorious web ban during the Olympics.   (AP Photo)
The country says sites that violate Chinese laws are banned, which includes BBC and Voice of America.
The country says sites that violate Chinese laws are banned, which includes BBC and Voice of America.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
Guest
May 29, 2009 4:12 AM CDT
I have unfiltered access to any site from China using www.Freedur.com. This little proxy rocks. They offer free trial. Try it, you’ll like it.
Guest
Dec 16, 2008 7:15 PM CST
Well this is unsurprising. What IS surprising is that Australia's govt wants to do the exact same thing...
Mr.C
Dec 16, 2008 5:29 AM CST
the 3 countries I don't desire to visit now: Zimbabwe, N. Korea, and China

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