China issues new rules to control internet

[UpInArms]

http://smh.com.au/news/world/china-issues-new-rules-to-control-internet/2005/09/25/1127586740141.html

China is imposing new regulations to control content on its news websites, the Government said today, another step in efforts to police a rapidly expanding internet population.

The rules were issued by the Ministry of Information Industry and the State Council, China's cabinet, to "standardise the management of news and information" in the country, the official Xinhua News Agency said. They take effect immediately, it said.

The report did not give any details on the regulations but said sites should only post news on current events and politics. It did not define what would be acceptable under those categories.

Only "healthy and civilised news and information that is beneficial to the improvement of the quality of the nation, beneficial to its economic development and conducive to social progress" will be allowed, Xinhua said.

"The sites are prohibited from spreading news and information that goes against state security and public interest."

...more...

[sweetheart]

1. doesn't sound very progressive

The irony of a culture that thinks it can erase the sovereign individual,
as if the cellular citizen can ever be rubbed out... and blood comes
in through the cracks as the organic reality of a billion souls seeking
their truthful individuality.

[ixion]

2. As much as I disagree with their position, at least they're honest about

it. It's the same way here, for the most part, but simply enforced by consent of the MSM.

[fujiyama]

4. That's corporate control of the media

Atleast we have DU to be able to communicate with each othher.

The Chinese government doesn't allow even that. If a website speaks ill of the government, the state run ISPs will block it. Now, I'm sure this administration would love to implement similar control here...and maybe with Roberts and anothere far right lunatic on the SC they will try...

[wickerwoman]

7. Doesn't seem to work too well though...

I've never been blocked from a single website. I can get DU, BBC, CNN, the works.

And with more and more Chinese people speaking fluent English (encouraged by a massive national campaign) they will be less and less able to control access to information.

I think this legislation is aimed at blocking out tabloid journalism, esp the variety that follows politicians around and snaps pictures of them with their girlfriends.

Anyway, if it's enforced like the "crackdowns" on cyber-cafes, pirated DVD shops, littering, pollution, corruption, etc. everything should be back to normal in three or four weeks.

On the plus side, maybe China Daily will finally hire a proofreader. :-) All those typos aren't very "productive of social progress".

[Triana]

3. GUESS WHO is next?

...The United States. They're trying to implement the same here. The US gov't is quite interested in China's internet control policies and methods...look at how they control the media. The internet is their next target.

[The Wielding Truth]

5. If it is implemented in US the freepers will never even know it.

They have responded so well to the Rovian Reality that they will not even notice that the CHeney GRoup control has slipped into every nook and cranny of their lives.And to think the Chinese hold our chips and can cash in anytime.What a mess they have put us in. In Freeper terms " Life is Great in the Good ol'USA!"

[ShockediSay]

6. Guess we wouldn't last long over there

"The sites are prohibited from spreading news and information that goes against state ... interest."

[ladylibertee]

8. I wonder if this is an attempt to cover up the fact that they are ....

continuing their nuclear program and this is a way to keep their press from reporting it ? I dunno, I may be way off base.