The Hoof Beats of Net Censorship
June 14, 2011
“Iran Has Had Enough of the Internet,” writes TechEYE.net, while ComputerWorld reports “China Censors Web to Curb Inner Mongolia Protests.” Control seems inevitable in certain countries.
It’s tough to search when someone has stacked the deck. In China, the government has been blocking search terms and Facebook posts on subjects it wishes to keep quiet. Regarding the most recent actions, TechEYE,net explains:
The censorship comes after protests erupted in the region when an ethnic Mongolian shepherd was run over by an ethnic Han truck driver, according to human rights groups. Ethnic Mongolians in the region have taken to the streets, prompting authorities to declare martial law in some of the cities.
Meanwhile, Iran has decided to shut down the Internet altogether and replace it with its own system. Here’s snippet we noted:
The plan is being drawn up by the country’s communications ministry. The idea seems to have the backing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatolla Ali Khamenei and will help further encourage a certain flavor of Islamic moral values on Iran’s people. It will take two years for Iran’s government departments to be taken off the grid but about 60 percent of the country’s homes and businesses will be connected to [the government’s] new net in much less time.”
Will such censorship come to the US with a vengeance? I doubt it, but certain types of rational thinking yields some surprising outcomes. For examples, read Voltaire’s Bastards.
Cynthia Murrell June 14, 2011
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, the resource for enterprise search information and current news about data fusion
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