China's 'open' internet

An image you won't find on Google.cn

In response to Google’s blogpost concerning several attacks which were targeted at human rights activists GMail accounts during december, supposedly by the Chinese government, Chinese officials have this response (Jiang Yu, Chinese Foreight Ministry spokeswoman):

China’s internet is open and the Chinese government encourages development of the internet.

No it isn’t. The government requested Google to block search results for topics it considers as dangerous or subversive. The Great Firewall of China blocks websites without any form of clarification, peer review or international debate. For a country in the midst of rapid economic expansion, this is a tightrope walk which is going to end horribly. People deserve access to all knowledge, unfiltered and uncensored. (updated visualisation of blocked keywords and websites in china)

Don’t be evil now, Google.

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