Internet Police

When you see some of the appalling rubbish that there is on the Internet you might be tempted to wish for censorship.  The trouble is that states that are able to censor the Internet such as China are more interested in clamping down on free discussion.  Any content that is critical of the state is quickly removed.

Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China is conducted under a wide variety of laws and administrative regulations. The government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has made more than sixty Internet regulations.  Provincial branches of state-owned ISPs, business companies, and organizations vigorously implement censorship systems.

The Chinese government's effort to neutralize critical online opinion comes after a series of large anti-Japanese, anti-pollution and anti-corruption protests. These were organised or publicised using instant messaging services, chat rooms and text messages.

There is an Internet police task force, estimated at more than 30,000 most of its work involved with censorship and monitoring. Critical comments appearing on Internet forums, bulletin boards, blogs, vlogs or any major portals such as Sohu and Sina are usually erased within minutes.

China will soon be the biggest presence on the Internet. It will overtake the United States any day now.  They have developed the technology to control Internet content, which they are now marketing to other states. Soon more of the Internet will be controlled than not with free speech and political discussion severely curtailed in large parts of the world.

It will be interesting to see what happens during the Olympic games.