Vast Active Library and Information Science blog. From a recent library science graduate in Wellington, New Zealand. A focus on reference and current awareness tools and issues, especially free, web-based resources.

 
Michael Geist reports from first hand experience on restrictions on internet access in China.

"[U]nfettered Internet access is far more fragile than is commonly perceived.... Google News... would not load into my browser...it became clear that the Chinese system was filtering my [web-based] email messages and cutting off the connection....most people I spoke to were resigned to an Internet with limits....[many] noted that the censorship “only” affected political information, but that business could be conducted online unimpeded."

The technology to censor the net is out there. It wouldn't take too much effort for the same thing to happen outside of China.

| posted by Simon at 7:33 pm