David Pierson for the Los Angeles Times:
As websites including Wikipedia shut down and millions of Americans complained to lawmakers about the potential for government censorship, Chinese netizens spoke admiringly of the public rebellion. Such a display in China would be nearly impossible right now, given Beijing’s tight grip on citizens’ online activities.
An important contrast that conscientious American citizens should bear in mind, always. It’s one thing to say your government is censorious. It’s another thing entirely to actually live under such an oppressive regime, and it must make us that much more vigilant to protect our rights.
Oppressive is a bit harsh but a good point. Countries like Thailand, which despite the recent political turmoil is still close to paradise on earth, regularly censors different parts of the web. But none of these countries arrest foreign citizens and seize their assets when living in countries other than their own. It’s unimaginable that China could arrest a dissident residing in the US and seize their assets.
The piracy debate aside I’m still amazed at the political influence the RIAA and MPAA have relative to the size of their industries.
Well, the Chinese government would surely freeze any bank account the person has in China and most likely arrest friends and family.
The developments in recent years, whether in China, or in western countries show again and again, that people with power are afraid of the internet and modern means of communication in general, or want to use it to profit off of the common citizen.
The developments that have happened over the last few years are basically attempts to turn the internet into a Panopticon.
For those who find that to hyperbolic or dark, I’ll offer this comic:
China regularly makes mass arrests over dvd piracy, mostly for show as I think the profits lost are in the US thereby not affecting anyone in power in China, but I’ve never heard of friends and family not directly involved being arrested. But all is possible in China.
Countries like Thailand and China who regularly censor the internet due so for perceived threats to the state. Usually this is nothing more than expressing an opinion. A common example is saying disparaging comments about the King in Thailand. Say something rude about the King on a Thai airways flight, you go to jail. Recently an American site owner/blogger, living in Thailand, was arrested over comments regarding the King.
I can’t imagine an America where one couldn’t express an opinion, negative or positive, over leadership or any other topic. Legislation that hampers the free exchange of information on the internet threatens this basic right.
Exactly.
Regarding the Chinese arresting and/or questioning family and friends of people. We covered this topic in lectures and seminars. It doesn’t happen very often, but it does. The case that comes to mind right this moment is that of a Chinese worker who protest the flooding of his village for the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.
He went underground and authorities started arresting people he knew, simply for knowing him, to force him out.
As for the free expression argument, I kindly direct you to my comment further down. We are in agreement.