China is no stranger to blocking online content, and it has had a history of fickle attitudes towards Google and its various Web services in particular. With the recent turmoil in Tibet, where as many as 80 people were killed as of Monday, China has followed in the footsteps of Myanmar and blocked Google News and YouTube in order to stop the flow of information from the area of conflict.
Demonstrations in Tibet began on March 10, and while some video footage and photos leaked out into the public realm, Beijing has tried its best to stop the flow. International press has been barred from entering Tibet, so all major reporting has been conducted by China’s state-run press.
Those located in China trying to view YouTube on their Web browsers were met with a blank screen earlier in the week.
This does not mean that Chinese citizens are totally unable to access Google News and YouTube; virtual private network (VPN) services are available that enable a circumvention of China’s content control.
Myanmar acted similarly in September 2007, when public protests which began peacefully ended violently, with the junta clashing with protestors in the streets. Internet and phone access were shut down for a time, though enough videos and images were sent out to international press beforehand to convey the dire situation there.
Tensions will likely continue to climb until this summer’s 2008 Olympics in China are over.
Sources:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20080317/
tc_pcworld/143504;_ylt=AvOJdxCXxs0GAIFhoHzqftr6VbIF
http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2008/03/17/china_youtube/
http://www.betanews.com/article/
China_blocks_YouTube_Google_News_amid_Tibet_protests/1205773854
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