NYTimes journalist Howard W. French reports
on how in China “little sister is watching” along with many of her fellow
Chinese students at the behest of their Universities (and China‘s
government) to infiltrate online discussions and “steer what they consider
negative conversations in a positive direction.” Anything “they deem offensive”
is reported to the University for deletion.
The specific little sister, a sophomore, mentioned in Mr. French’s article
is one of 500 “volunteer” student thought police recruits at her particular
University, Shanghai Normal University. Mr. French mentions that,
“For years China has had its Internet police, reportedly as many as 50,000
state agents who troll online, blocking Web sites, erasing commentary and arresting people for what is deemed anti-Communist Party or antisocial
speech.”
Beyond the official Internet police and the legions of student “volunteer”
thought police encouraged by universities are unmentioned companies (Google,
Microsoft, Yahoo, & Cisco?) that engage in government mandated censorship.
But Mr. French suggests that “While the national Web censorship campaign
all but requires companies to demonstrate their vigilance against what
the government deems harmful information, the new censorship drive on college
campuses shows greater subtlety and, some would say, greater deviousness.”
Did I miss something?
The Chinese are Communists. You know, secret police, informers, censorship, Central Committe, one for all all for one, workers of the world unite throw off your chains, take from those who have to give to those who need, run you over with a tank, we have mobile execution vans, Communists.
Did the NYT expect something else? I better let them know:
The NYT is concerned because Little Sister is steering conversations in directions that throw a positive light on their system. They should be happy someone doesn’t ship their head home in a box. They kill dissidents there, he we just ignore them (you know like I do with that Sheehan woman.)
Re:Did I miss something?
“secret police, informers, censorship, Central Committe, one for all all for one”
OMG The Chinese are now neocons!?
Re:Did I miss something?
Hey, we dont capitalize central committee!