The Communications Revolution and China

The Internet is widely known for the freedom of the information flow that provides to its users. Governments in question though, are trying their best to control access to content that is often politically sensitive and restrict free speech. In countries like China, were some issues are politically sensitive, there was a need by the government to regulate the Internet. The ‘Great Firewall of China’ was the Chinese government’s attempt for controlling the Internet content. It has been supported, the Internet is clearly a significant long-term strategic threat to authoritarian regimes. News from the outside world brought by the Internet into nations subjugated by such regimes will clash with the distorted versions provided by their governments, eroding the credibility of their positions and encouraging unrest. Personal contact between people living under such governments and people living in the free world, conducted by e-mail, will also help to achieve a more accurate understanding on both ends and further undermine authoritarian controls. Some of the sensitive political and historical events, like the Tibetan independence and the episodes at the Tienanmen Square, are forbidden to be accessed by the Chinese citizens and generally by all Internet users living in China. Nevertheless, the restriction of the flow of information in China does not stop at the content of the Internet. Having a digital television through satellite is extremely rare in China, as the mass of the people are not permitted to have a digital television it their households. It is obvious that is it intended that people can not have free access to the new information communication technologies due to governmental issues. This leads us to the conclusion that fundamental inequalities of access prevent certain groups of people from gaining benefits from the biggest phenomenon of this century, the global communications revolution.

~ by zoezzoe on May 16, 2008.