"Control, Outside Our Borders"

CHINESE AUTHORITIES, CENSORSHIP, AND THE INTERNET...

In the Western World, it is common opinion that the Chinese government actively controls what content the people of China access on the internet. However, a recent article in the Globe and Mail suggests that the Western perception of China's internet control is simply inaccurate. Rebecca MacKinnon, assistant professor of new media at Hong Kong University's Journalism and Media Studies Centre, argues that the Communist Party has survived the impact of the internet; and the root of the control is based on the Chinese public's "self-censorship." However, she doesn't doubt that the Chinese authorities could and would "crack down" at any moment if they believed it was necessary.

My Critique
First, I realize this post is slightly different than the rest in that it deals less with police directly-but it does question the use of power by governments. Yes, for the most part, federal governments retain the power in nations to control, influence, and censor what they please. In democracy, the notion is that we empower our governments to make decisions that are aligned with legislation and, ultimately, the Charter. That sounds okay right? Well, it's not democracy in question, but communism. In effect, communist governments seek a different kind of control and excise power, often, at will. This is simply unfair to the Chinese people-everyone should have the right view an 'objective' internet. Furthermore, the internet is not only a social medium, but a political, economical, and recreational entity; which has driven globalization. Let the internet be open to all!

Advocacy of the Devil
First of all, who is the Western World to criticize? Is it not society and the authorities on nearly all levels who are concerned with 'cyber theft,' internet sex predators, and such things as online breaches of intellectual property rights?? Obviously, some pretty serious things. Could it be realy that bad if the government screened a little? As in: less advertisements and less adult material. Maybe the Western World should take a page out of China's book!