Authoritarian Regimes Use Devices From A US Firm To Censor Their People

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http://www.businessinsider.com/authoritarian-regimes-use-devices-from-a-us-firm-to-censor-their-people-2013-1



Authoritarian regimes around the world are using technology from a Silicon Valley firm for Internet surveillance, filtering and censorship, according to a report by Canadian researchers.

The report this week from the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab said devices from California-based security firm Blue Coat Systems were being used in China, Russia, Venezuela and other countries with "a history of concerns over human rights."

"Our findings support the need for national and international scrutiny of Blue Coat implementations in the countries we have identified, and a closer look at the global proliferation of 'dual-use' information and communication technologies," said the report.

"Internet service providers responsible for these deployments should consider publicly clarifying their function, and we hope Blue Coat will take this report as an opportunity to explain their due diligence process to ensure that their devices are not used in ways that violate human rights."


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/authoritarian-regimes-use-devices-from-a-us-firm-to-censor-their-people-2013-1#ixzz2IKQVBqZi