Valentines for Internet heroes

On January 8, I published an article on this blog called "The future is here..." about how major US technology companies have been helping the Chinese government censor free speech and persecute Chinese journalists.

Looks like things are starting to change...

What just a few weeks ago was taking place in dark alleys is now on center stage and under a spotlight.

Since late January, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times have all run major stories about the questionable practices of companies like Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google when it comes to cooperating with repressive regimes.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that currently words like "freedom" and "democracy" are censored in China and web sites with these words on them are blocked by the Chinese government. Even worse, it appears that in at least one case, one company, Yahoo, actually aided the Chinese government in jailing one of its critics by making his private e-mails available to investigators.

What a disgrace. Is this the best and highest use of the Internet? I don't think so. And it's a bad idea to let these precedents stand.

Abuse of the Internet and Internet users by the Chinese government (and, in all fairness, they're not the only government involved) has been going on for a long time. The difference is that today the Internet community is much more aware of what's happening. Clearly the big tech corps have started to feel the displeasure of public opinion. Good!  Now's the time to turn up the heat.

Meanwhile, valentines for some of the heroes who in the true spirit of the Internet are creating workarounds so Chinese Internet users can evade the censors.

Bill Xia
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_08/b3972061.htm

Bennett Haselton 
http://www.peacefire.org/circumventor/simple-circumventor-instructions.html

Roger Dingledine
http://tor.freehaven.net

The Wall Street Journal published a detailed account of this 'hacktivist' movement
on the front page of their February 13, 2006 issue. Valentines to the Wall Street Journal too.

Tomorrow representatives from Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft will be in front of Congress answering questions about why they're using their power in the Internet marketplace to help repressive governments carry out their dirty work.

Let's watch and ask our own questions.

 

 

Comments

[Martin Wales]

Here, here Ken!

What an excellent insight into the use of technology for all the wrong reasons -- the repression of democracy and liberty.

I had no idea of the pathetic cooperation of Yahoo! More like "Ya-right". Shame on them.

Thanks again,

Martin Wales
Customer Catcher Communications

[Macushla]

Hello Ken,

This insight into the abuse of human rights for privacy and freedom & the original meaning of Valentines has come to my attention in such a synchronatic way .
Firstly my husband & I met each other on the internet 2 years ago and we use the internet frequently for communicating with one another as at present he is now in China and I am back here in NZ.

Just yesterday he was asking me what were the origins of Valentines Day as this is not a part of his culture , he is Nigerian.
I said that today I would look into this and let him know later tonight and here ! is your email sitting in my inbox ready to explain this to me with much more !!!!
My husband & I had been discussing together just recently the issue of privacy on the internet and on cell phones and were of the mind that we did have to be cautious. We are not involved in anything illegal but the nature of his business over there does require that he be alert.

I am apalled by what I have read today about these financial powerhouses misuse of their power but yet I am not surprised either.
I would like to know how I can keep up to date on what is happening in regards to matters like this and the outcome of Yahoo etc.. going up before Congress. If you can direct me towards a good source that would be great !

Regards,

Macushla.

[Dave Alston]

Hi Ken,

so refreshing to read some intelligent, well thought out writing on issues that really matter.

My day is richer for reading your Valentine Post (in the best sense of the word). It's also drawn my attention to stand beside our Chinese friends in prayer.

Regards,

Dave Alston

[Steve O'Keefe]

Ken,

You got me: an e-mail suggesting three Valentine's Day heroes, then a blog bestowing thanks on those who seek to preserve an open Internet. Well done!

The Internet has erased more borders in a dozen years than all the treaties in history. It is truly the tyrant's foe. No government can stop us from talking to each other anymore. We, the people, have the technology to circumvent those restrictions, and we will not let this tech be taken away!

Thank you for reminding us about the sacrifices a few have made so that the rest of us may communicate freely.

STEVE O'KEEFE
Vice President
International Association of Online Communicators (IAOCblog.com)

[GAry Dumke]

HOORAY for Ken McCarthy--you're about the only guy in the internet marketing community who has the balls to even keep this subject in the spotlight. I've heard rumblings here & there about what is transpiring abroad-and of the depicable tactics that these companies are using--all in the name of a buck - so they have the permission of the Chinese government to operate. I hope more of the big guys like yourself keep letting us know--but I doubt it--they are to busy sending us "the pitch". Keep it up!!! Eventually more people will realize that all is not what it seems with google, yahoo and others. Thank You so much for being you! Happy Day after Valentines!

GAry Dumke
Sullivan Ohio
Internet "newbie"

[Ken McCarthy]

For folks who want to follow up on this issue, here are some links:

* Human Rights in China
http://www.hrichina.org

* US State Department Report (2004)
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41640.htm

* Amnesty International's China reporting
http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/china/index.do

Note: The Chinese government currently employs THOUSANDS of special police to monitor and censor Internet communications within China.

Among that group there are surely many propaganda agents who are working overtime to 'spin' the US media on this issue.

The bottom line is that in China one billion people human beings cannot criticize their government or utter or publish words like "democracy" without facing prison sentences and other physical threats.

If the shoe were on the other foot, I'm sure we'd want people in free countries to speak up for us on our behalf.

It's utter nonsense to declare that "free trade" is the solution to the problem. Before the declaration of hostitilies with Nazi Germany, we had "free trade" with them too - right up until the day they started shooting at us (and - shamefully - some US companies kept trading with them during the war.)

In all fairness to Yahoo etc., they're in business to make money and in their shortsighted way, they've seen cooperation with censorship in China as a 'no risk' scenario.

It's the job of people who care about freedom to put the risk into the equation for them by letting them know there will be consequences to their public image.

The day it costs these companies more to cooperate with the censors than it does to stand up to them is the day they will discover their conscience.

Let's hope tomorrow's Congressional hearings light a fire. If there's ever going to be a major sea change on this issue, now is the time.

[van cook]

Nice work on freedom of Internet in China but I believe the focus should be on retaining our own freedom in the U.S. The Bush administration seems determined to meddle in our personal affairs in the guise of fighting the war on terror.

Remember the old saying, "Beware Greeks bearing gifts!"

[Ken McCarthy]

"Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither."

- Ben Franklin

That from a guy who personally put his fortune (and neck) on the line so that we can even have this discussion.

Should we do any less?

This year is the celebration of the 300th anniversary of his birthday.

If you use the post office or make money from any form of publishing, especially direct marketing, you're following in his footsteps.

Details:

http://www.benfranklin300.org/

[katrina]

that's not what i looked for