China's crackdown on the Internet

As we have reported, China has blocked and continues to block websites that are objectionable or inflammatory in a political nature. They have also recently blocked and continue to block websites with a large amount of user-generated content such as blogs, youtube, twitter, and even hotmail and MSN messenger.

The Wall Street Journal has now just reported that China wants to take its stranglehold of the internet to the next level, by requiring PC manufacturers to preload web-filtering software on their PCs effective July 1st... this new policy was only announced May 19th.

Looks like the kinder, gentler China from the Olympics is unfortunately becoming a distant memory...

Here's a quote from a Wall Street Journal article dated June 8, 2009:

"China plans to require that all personal computers sold in the country as of July 1 be shipped with software that blocks access to certain Web sites, a move that could give government censors unprecedented control over how Chinese users access the Internet."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124440211524192081.html

Looks like the Chinese will just have to come up with new ways around the government's information controls... and they will.