The first half of Sweetness' thoughts were in yesterday's Sweetness' Findings: Web Censorship Spreading, Part 1.
Sweetness continues:
"Perhaps countries have taken a page out of history and remember what happened in Russia with the expansion of the internet. A government can cut phone lines and stop the newspapers, but they can’t stop cell phones and the internet as a means of communicating what’s happening in their country and finding out what’s happening in the world.
"Mr. Walters explains that “A recent six-month investigation into whether 40 countries use censorship shows the practice is spreading, with new countries learning from experienced practitioners such as China and benefiting from technological improvements.” Some of these countries block web sites; others block applications such as Wikipedia, or blogging services. Some go so far as to block search abilities so that someone can’t track down material or information.
"It’s an alarming trend to those of us who love information and the freedom of exchanging ideas with everyone around the globe. Some may say that the countries doing the blocking are the ones losing out. Perhaps they are. I think we all lose when we can’t share thoughts and ideas. Are some of them offensive, yes. And just like t.v., change the channel or don’t turn it on.
"Original article: Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007"
Many thanks, Sweetness. Interesting reading, me thinks.
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