Just getting the news off the Internet? Not in China, or at least not news of which the government disapproves. After having backed off its censorship of the Internet during the Beijing Olympics, the communist government has resumed blocking access to many news sites.
The Chinese economy is slowing, and leaders have been expressing worry about potential risks to social stability caused by high unemployment. So in one sense, it’s not a surprise that China returns to its autocratic ways. But it is still a disappointment, and a cautionary tale of how duplicitous the Chinese government is.
Even when sites might be accessible from mainland computers, keyword searches on politically sensitive topics often are blocked. This is an example of what happens when a totalitarian government gets its hands on the flow of information into a country.
