My friend Dan in China's Middle Kingdom Stories blog has been caught up in a government-led onslaught against blogs in that country. Yes, you can blog in China, just like you can be a Christian, but it is increasingly difficult to blog, just like it is difficult to practice your religion. (Sorry, but I just had to tie in Christianity somewhere. >cheesey smile<)
First off, Dan couldn't use Blogger because it's blocked in China, and so had to settle with a second-tier host called Blog-City. Then, earlier this year, the government announced all Internet sites needed to register--much like the authorities require religious organizations to register--erasing the protection of anonymity blogs can afford. Of course, Dan like many others ignored that ruling, which probably was just a legal justification to shut down any unregistered site, just like they can unregistered churches. (Hm ... I'm seeing strange parallels with Christianity and blogs in China again ... can someone explain this?)
Then, a couple months ago, Yahoo Photos became unavailable in China. Then another second-tier host called ImageShack disappeared from the Chinese Internet. And now pretty much all that is left for Chinese bloggers is MSN Spaces, which voluntarily filters "sensitive" words like democracy and Tibet in China. I've posted on this before ... Microsoft, the epitome of capitalist success and owner of MSN Spaces, is really a communist stooge.
Sorry, Dan.
For more info on the incredible shrinking Chinese blogosphere, see this post and this post.
1 comment:
It's not that difficult to get around the blocked sites. As you can see, I am commenting on you blogspot post and yet I'm in Beijing. And I must say that the vast majority of Chinese bloogers don't use those sites - and anyway are probably are more interested in blogging about their new shoes or the latest Tsui Hark movie than about democracy.
And if you're interested in Christianity in China I've just posted a few pics of my local church here at http://beijingobserver.blogspot.com
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