China - Policing The Web
While surfing in Beijing, don’t be surprised if a “Beijing Internet Police” pops in to check on you starting September 1, 2007.
Virtual police officers will soon begin visible patrols on Chinese Internet sites on the look out for websites and Internet activities that incite secession, promote superstition, gambling, fraud and pornography.
“It is our duty to wipe out information that does public harm and disrupts social order,” the bureau’s deputy chief of Internet surveillance, Zhao Hongzhi, was quoted as saying.
As well as offering a reminder that “big brother” is watching, web users can also click on the cyber police images to connect with the Internet surveillance centre and report suspicious activities.
Chinese cyber-cops first appeared on portals based out of the southern city of Shenzhen last year, according to the China Daily. [Via]
While this takes China’s attempt to restrict the Internet one step further, would it also serve as a model for the rest of the world?
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