Behind China』s Internet Firewall (1/6)

His name is Shi Tao, former journalist for the Contemporary Business News in Changsha City, Hubei Province. In April 2004, Shi Tao was attending an internal meeting at work. His upper management verbally informed everyone of a publication just received from the Office of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. It was, essentially, a directive on how they should go about reporting the upcoming fifteenth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Shi Tao made notes in the meeting and then sent an email – through his Yahoo account – to a friend at a web-magazine called Democracy Newsletter. His aimed was to warn overseas Chinese activists not to go back to China at that time, or they might have faced arrest. Seven days later, Shi Tao himself was arrested. April 27, 2005, Shi Tao was sentenced to ten years in prison for 」illegally leaking state secrets abroad.」 Unfortunately, this was a typical sentence in a typical case. Like many intellectuals who had been given criminal sentences because of what they said, Shi Tao, 37 years-old, may have, more or less been mentally prepared for this outcome. However, little could this journalist have imagined that one of the hands that had thrown him into prison was a company that he had relied on for years in his efforts to create political change – the US headquartered technology company, Yahoo. So what exactly were the circumstances surrounding his arrest? And just what part do companies like Yahoo play in China』s …

1. DarthMai says:

   January 18, 2011 at 5:29 PM

   @whitecollarcriminal …microchip implant to store medical records is coming soon…Change we can believe in is coming to America.
2. sundancekid122 says:

   January 18, 2011 at 5:43 PM

   you obviously havent read 1984.
3. ConstitutionSupportr says:

   January 18, 2011 at 6:23 PM

   Amendment 4

   The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

   The question is does this apply to something as decentralized as the internet.

   I say yes,
   others say no.

   I like freedom,
   others don’t.
4. mrmz1988 says:

   January 18, 2011 at 6:52 PM

   why isnt something like this in the US? i consider myself a liberal and a democrat but “privacy” rights are mostly bullshit.
5. fengshentui says:

   January 18, 2011 at 7:37 PM

   I want glad to see the result of poll. Where can I get it???
6. daniel987878 says:

   January 18, 2011 at 7:41 PM

   Please consider.
7. Gorgnop says:

   January 18, 2011 at 8:30 PM

   please join the 21st century.
8. Gorgnop says:

   January 18, 2011 at 9:22 PM

   i am not afraid to say what think. r u ?
9. Gorgnop says:

   January 18, 2011 at 9:40 PM

   dependence is put on nonmotivated people”s lack of understanding of attitude of hi-motvted people.
10. Gorgnop says:

    January 18, 2011 at 9:45 PM

    anyone surprised that a soul is sold for money?
11. zeel2314 says:

    January 18, 2011 at 10:37 PM

    is anyone surprised by the Chinese guy with an Austrialian accent?
12. xxximreallycoolxxx says:

    January 18, 2011 at 10:43 PM

    what about Yahoo?
13. oddsoldier says:

    January 18, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    1984 is really here. its sad to say, but America is doing this via the patriot act – our government isnt as blunt about it, though, as china’s is. its happening – keep youtubing, keep living life day to day as though nothing is happening, but our constitution is being twisted around to meet certain regimes and interests.

    welcome to 1984.

    “we’ve always been able to defend ourselves since the sands of time… why have the goverment act as our parents?”
14. fascist says:

    January 19, 2011 at 12:17 AM

    I think you are taking that a little too far. You are confusing genuine technological upgrades that better the quality of human life with government interference and surveillance.
15. MasterODeliciousPies says:

    January 19, 2011 at 12:27 AM

    Wow, they have an Australian accent. I would have thought that Hong Kong would have a British accent.
16. hearitherefirst says:

    January 19, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    i sold Rielle Hunter crack cocaine,rielle is also cheating on her taxes
17. d360sk8r says:

    January 19, 2011 at 12:58 AM

    how is there only one comment on this even though there are 134.836 views?
18. qeveriadoteu says:

    January 19, 2011 at 1:30 AM

    In Italy exist too.
19. culturalrectum says:

    January 19, 2011 at 2:23 AM

    and Bill Gates wants you to believe he cares about charity? LOL! What a wart on the ass of humanity.
20. tekkenjam says:

    January 19, 2011 at 2:27 AM

    asdsad
21. TruculentBeast says:

    January 19, 2011 at 2:34 AM

    Wow, this is a bit frightening.
22. TorontoBoi says:

    January 19, 2011 at 2:42 AM

    and they say there are no conspiracies. The New World Order is on it’s way. Wake up sheeple.
23. dalewogan says:

    January 19, 2011 at 2:43 AM

    So basicly it’s some sort of syping thing all they have to do is put someones name in and lods of info comes up about them and what they been doing n downloading n that n what they been on. A think a don’t understand it.

    If they have they prob got the same thing in the uk or working on it.
24. pbgskategodkyle says:

    January 19, 2011 at 3:16 AM

    chinese gvt are a bunch of douche bags
25. dejahthoris says:

    January 19, 2011 at 3:51 AM

    Google is evil.