YouTube Banned by China: Online Censorship?

"China's Communist Government Blocking YouTube" digtriad.com (March 16, 2008)

And who can blame them? Here they are, trying their best to look like a fine, upstanding country for the 2008 Olympics: and someone on YouTube started posted video of what's going on in Tibet.

China blocks YouTube over Tibet protest videos International Herald Tribune (March 16, 2008) points out that, "Chinese leaders encourage Internet use for education and business but use online filters to block access to material considered subversive or pornographic." "There were no protest scenes posted on China-based video Web sites such as 56.com, youku.com and tudou.com."

Be Careful What You Ask For

Next time you read about some wonderful-sounding idea about regulating the Internet, remember Tibet, China, and YouTube: Deciding who can watch what can have undesirable consequences.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox - for now.

Background

Tibet's been a province of China for quite a while. "Xizang," is China's preferred name for the place. China invaded Tibet/Xizang in 1951, and have been re-educating Buddhist monks and improving the place ever since. More about Xizang, or Tibet, online:

• "China's 'Go West' Drive Seeks to Funnel Aid to Poor Region"
  International Herald Tribune (May 8, 2001)
• "China's hard sell in the mild, mild west"
  CNN (May 29, 2001)
• "Tibet Protests Spread to Other Provinces; Dalai Lama Warns of 'Cultural Genocide'"
  FOXNews (March 16, 2008)
• "Some Basic Facts About Tibet"
  The Associated Press (March 14, 2008)