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Gold Medal in Censorship? China Reblocks Websites

LibertySugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:00:36 -0800

Now that the Olympics are long gone, and the world has its eyes off of China, the country's government has returned to keeping an eye on what its 250 million Internet users can access. It appears China, which has the most web users in the world, only made superficial advances in freedom of the press during the games. In other words: censorship is back!

So which sites can you no longer visit in China? Chinese language versions of international sites like BBC, Voice of America, and Human Rights Watch have been rebanned, along with some Hong Kong-based sites, because they refer to Taiwan as an independent country and not part of China.

A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said China had the right to censor material deemed illegal, just like other governments do. For example, the US criminalizes online technology that can be used to violate copyright protections.

Are you surprised the legacy of the Beijing Olympics probably won't include expanded freedom?

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Briefing Book! Experience China's Censored Internet at Home

LibertySugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:30:00 -0700

China: Want to come face-to-face with China's Net Nanny? New Firefox ad-on lets you experience the censored Chinese internet at home! — Shanghaiist
Palin: Will Tina go softer on the Palins? Sarah offered her daughter Bristol to babysit Tina's daughter during SNL. — Huffington Post
Voting: No long lines there? Astronauts cast ballots from space. — Neatorama
Florida: An effective surrogate? Republican strategist says Governor Charlie Crist's decision to extend voting hours in Florida just blew the state for John McCain. —23/6
Media: Is the media getting bored with pointing out campaign falsehoods? ABC picks apart lies about Obama's 2001 radio interview that are now centerpiece of Palin's stump speech. — Talking Points Memo
McCain: Behind the fancy campaign lies the truth? McCain responds to Obama's half-hour ad with new video. —Townhall

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Front Page: Bush Defends Economic Measures, China's Media Freedoms to End, US Pushes for Iraq Security Deal

CitizenSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:00:41 -0700

Bush Defends Measures:
In a speech at the US Chamber of Commerce moments ago, President Bush defended the government's recent intervention in the financial crisis as measures of "last resort," saying that it will "take a while" for the credit system to thaw and that Americans can be confident it will. He said of the intervention, "Had the government not acted. . . We would have been forced to respond with even more drastic and costly measures later on."

China's Media Freedoms to End:
The rules that allowed greater freedom for foreign reporters during the Olympics are set to expire. There has been no word yet whether they will be extended, tossed, or traded for a new set of rules. The rules that allowed journalists to travel around China without applying for permission did not apply to Chinese journalists. Many hope the freedom will expand as a legacy of the Games.
US Pushes for Iraq Security Deal:
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is seeking to extend the US mandate in Iraq which is set to expire later this year. The details of the planned draft would have US troops withdraw from Iraq by 2011. Official approval by Congress isn't required though approval from Iraq, is. The current mandate expires on Dec. 31.

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Station Censors Mistake in Debate & Fact-Checking Last Night

CitizenSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:00:02 -0700

This is an odd case of censoring that if applied at the debate last night, could have made things look very different. In a congressional debate in Pennsylvania, a TV station has censored remarks made by one of the candidates because they were erroneous. Bleeping out a mistake? Yep, because the statement was about the economy. She said that two major banks had failed — when actually they hadn't — a mistake uncorrected at the time by either her opponent or the moderator was zapped from the debate before it was broadcast.

The general manager of the station who made the decision (after consulting with the FCC and the NAB) said, ''In the end, we did not feel that broadcasting the names of the banks served the public in any way. Because of the economic times we're in . . .a statement on television can cause an immediate effect.'' The debate aired with a disclaimer approved by both candidates.

To see what could have happened if this fact-checking censoring were to have happened at the debate last night,

Front Page: US Homeless Population Drops, Internet Censored For Games, Bush Signs Housing Rescue

CitizenSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:00:05 -0700

US Homeless Population Drops:
The number of homeless people living on the streets and in shelters dropped by 30 percent between 2005 and 2007, according to Bush administration officials and statistics compiled by local counts. The drop is attributed to a "housing first" strategy. The plan emphasizes placing the chronically homeless in permanent shelters to stop the cycle of emergency shelters, hospitals, and the streets. The decline is the most significant officials have seen in years.

Internet Censored For Games:
Journalists will not have uncensored access to the Internet during the Olympics, according to officials. Sites related to human rights and the group Falun Gong will be blocked. When China bid for the Games, they said journalists would be free to report, and blocking the "sensitive" sites does not go back on the pledge in their minds. "We will provide reporters with sufficient Internet access."
Bush Signs Housing Rescue:
President Bush signed a housing rescue package into law today that, in addition to protecting mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, includes $4 billion in grants to states to buy and repair foreclosed homes to "flip" them for profit and a fund to help homeowners get more affordable mortgages. The nation as a whole is $12 trillion in mortgage debt.

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The Google Defense: Can Search Terms Determine Obscenity?

LibertySugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:00:00 -0700

A defendant in an obscenity trial hopes to introduce Google search data to show that community tastes go beyond apple pie and toward a more sexual appetite. Under the law, a jury or judge must decide if the alleged obscenity violates the vague benchmark of "community standards."

In the past, defendants have relied on the wide availability of sexual material in the community, to prove standards. The current defendant, pornographic website operator Clinton Raymond McCowen's, wants to go further, showing interest and consumption rather than availability. While local statistics from Pensacola, FL, show that residents search NASCAR, surfing, and Nintendo more than orgy, orgy competes with apple pie, and other wholesome American terms, reports the New York Times.

This unusual case reveals the futility of trying to carefully censor the Internet. Since 2000 the US federal government has initiated only 15 nonchild porn-related obscenity cases. Local prosecutors have similarly dropped the charges against Internet porn.

If a jury finds this porn-site operator guilty of obscenity, and then goes home and searches for porn, are they acting like a bunch of hypocrites? Should citizens be left to self-censor the Internet? Does it make you nervous to realize how much data Google keeps?

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Sex and the City Billboards: Too Racy for Israel?

LibertySugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 03:00:58 -0700

You won't find Carrie and Mr. Big making out on the street of Jerusalem. Sex and the City advertisers have decided to forgo marketing in Jerusalem and Petah Tikva, Israel, in order to avoid offending devoutly religious residents.

The ad company is worried that the word "Sex," as well as racy pictures of the films' stars could, provoke widespread objection. This isn't the first time SATC has employed a different marketing campaign in these locations. During the shows television heyday, a poster was modified to make Sarah Jessica Parker's outfit into a more modest ensemble.

Not wanting to be labeled prude, the city of Petah Tikva went out of its way to clarify that it had nothing to do with the decision. And, an official from Jerusalem called reports that the city had censored the billboards slanderous.

Are sexy posters offensive to even the non-religious? Is the company taking a paternalistic attitude toward these residents? Or are they just sensibly avoiding a confrontation and negative backlash?

Photo courtesy of New Line

Sexy or Sexist? Racy Ads Still Sell in Sweden

LibertySugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:00:07 -0700

The birthplace of the Ikea flat-pack also finds itself home to some pretty controversial ads. Unlike its Scandinavian neighbors, Sweden does not ban advertisements insulting to women. Considering advertising a form of free speech, Sweden allows sexist images — such as nurse lying on a bed with male underpants covering her face. Such an ad, showing a woman in a demeaning position, would be banned in the countries next door.

In Denmark and Norway sexual and sexist images are forbidden unless they are relevant to the product. According to the BBC, the strict laws forbid anything that could make a viewer take offense or feel uncomfortable. Firms that do not remove inappropriate material are fined about $100,000 — though many businesses welcome the fine as a small price to pay for increased publicity. Head of Norway's association of the country's top advertising agencies says of their standards, "we're not that Puritan that you can't have naked bodies. But it has to be done in the right way, with charm and passion."

Do you agree with Sweden that sexist ads should be protected under freedom of speech? Norway and Denmark's ban on anything offensive seems like a pretty subjective standard. But do you think it would be easy to determine what crosses the line? Is it charm and passion or censorship gone wild in Denmark and Norway?

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Headline: Iranian Government May Block Internet For Election

LibertySugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:30:14 -0800

Iranians may be without internet on Mar. 14, the day of Iran's general legislative elections. Citing vague security concerns, the government plans on blocking private internet access for the day. Several million Iranians follow politics online, and political parties get there messages out on their websites.

The Iranian government has never completely shut down the internet completely. Less extreme restrictions in the country include:

Download speeds over 128 kilobytes banned since 2006.

Filters block websites and blogs that are deemed religiously or politically inappropriate.

Many bloggers have been jailed and websites shut down.

Can you imagine an election taking place without having access to any online analysis and information? Is the integrity of the election automatically compromised?

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