As for the second half of the semester, we would like to update our blog with a brand new template. First and foremost, our group would like to thank those who dropped few comments on our blog despite they were not many but we appreciate a lot. Also, we hope you guys would enjoy reading our blog.
For week 9, this is our research proposal which is shown below:
Research Topic
Our research topic is about Internet Censorship in China as we find out that this issue is quite interesting and controversial. Actually, this topic is recommended by our very own lecturer of this subject, Mr. Rodney as we were pretty quite clueless and indecisiveness to select topic that we were going to do at the beginning of the semester.
Despite lacked of knowledge on this issue, we decided to take the challenge to explore more about Internet censorship in China. In the meantime, we can learn and understand more about this issue and hopefully, the information that we provided on this blog are useful and detailed to be shared among the students of this subject.
Research Objectives
- To understand more about the "Great Firewall of China".
- To study the effects of Internet censorship on e-Commerce in China.
- To find out how Chinese cope and overcome this issue.
- Introduction
- What is Censorship?
- Types of Censorship
- What is Internet Censorship?
- Internet Censorship in China
- General Taxonomy of Blocked Sites in China
- Methods of Internet Censorship
- Reasons of Internet Censorship in China
- Political Motivation
- Moral Reasons
- Commercial Purposes
- Effects of Internet Censorship on e-Commerce in China
- Recommendations and Solutions
- Conclusion
- How Successful of Internet Censorship in China?
- How Successful of Internet Censorship in China?
- References
Internet is a global market place. The rapid development of the Internet, and especially of Internet-based commerce, has largely taken place outside the standard trade-regulatory frameworks that cover most other forms of cross-border commerce. The size of the Internet markets has grown, and as their contribution to the overall economy has become more pronounced, more attention has been given to regulatory concerns, such as trade-restrictive measures, damaging the climate of trade and investment in the fields of e-Commerce, information-based services and online transmissions.
Since its first Internet connection with the global computer network in 1994, China has witnessed explosive Internet development. By the end of 2008, China replaced the United States as the largest Internet user of the world. Although China enjoyed tremendous economic benefits from Internet development, the Chinese government has tried to maintain tight control over the telecommunications industry and the public Internet use, and fight increasing cyber crimes.
Since its first Internet connection with the global computer network in 1994, China has witnessed explosive Internet development. By the end of 2008, China replaced the United States as the largest Internet user of the world. Although China enjoyed tremendous economic benefits from Internet development, the Chinese government has tried to maintain tight control over the telecommunications industry and the public Internet use, and fight increasing cyber crimes.
The borderless nature of Internet information is also subject to control of local laws and regulations within boundaries (Goldsmith & Wu, 2006).The problem arises from the simple fact that Internet does not respect national boundaries and online services provided at one point on the globe can, in principle, be assessed at any point. Governments, who prefer that particular pieces of information of services should remain inaccessible from the population, are unable to act outside its jurisdiction using traditional means of enforcement.
China’s Internet use and development did not begin until a decade later after its economic reforms. Its growth has outpaced other countries, and China by 2008 has the largest number of Internet users in the world. What accompanied China’s Internet development is the government’s tight control and regulation over Internet infrastructure, its commercial and social use, and its potential political ramifications. Despite being criticized by human rights groups and activists, China’s Internet censorship system seemingly functions well as the “Great Firewall of China.”
China’s Internet use and development did not begin until a decade later after its economic reforms. Its growth has outpaced other countries, and China by 2008 has the largest number of Internet users in the world. What accompanied China’s Internet development is the government’s tight control and regulation over Internet infrastructure, its commercial and social use, and its potential political ramifications. Despite being criticized by human rights groups and activists, China’s Internet censorship system seemingly functions well as the “Great Firewall of China.”
Internet censorship is control or suppression of the publishing or accessing of information on the Internet. Censorship is a controversial issue and the aspect of censorship relevant to international trade law arises from the fact that the vast majority of Internet services are provided as commercial services and any disruption to online services has the direct commercial effect of reducing the revenue if such actors. Moreover, since censors and providers if services are often in different countries, this reduction in revenue is often forced upon a business in one country by the government of another: it has, in short, an international dimension.
Since China’s first global Internet connection in 1994, a mere 15 years has passed. However, China’s Internet development in such a short time has been eye-catching and China has already had the largest Internet users of the world by 2008. The impact of Internet use and development has been enormous and it is evident in almost every aspect of people’s lives in China. Such dramatic changes have left ample room for scholars’ research, potentially covering a broad scope of issues and subjects. Nevertheless, social studies on Internet use and development have been primarily on the implications of the Internet for China’s democratization, and the main concern is therefore state censorship, control, and regulation (Tsui, 2005).
Since China’s first global Internet connection in 1994, a mere 15 years has passed. However, China’s Internet development in such a short time has been eye-catching and China has already had the largest Internet users of the world by 2008. The impact of Internet use and development has been enormous and it is evident in almost every aspect of people’s lives in China. Such dramatic changes have left ample room for scholars’ research, potentially covering a broad scope of issues and subjects. Nevertheless, social studies on Internet use and development have been primarily on the implications of the Internet for China’s democratization, and the main concern is therefore state censorship, control, and regulation (Tsui, 2005).
References and Sources
Online Journals
Bin Liang, Long Hu 2010, Internet Development, Censorship, and Cyber Crimes in China, viewed on 20 September 2010.
This journal article mainly focus on the historical development of internet use in China. China’s internet censorship and its regulatory control also discussed in this paper. Besides, this paper also shows how the internet is actively utilized by both government and public to serve political and civic functions. Besides, this paper also discusses cyber crimes as an emergent form of crime in China and examines how the Chinese government reacts to it. Lessons from internet use and regulation in China also discussed within the context of China’s economic, political, and legal conditions.
Lokman Tsui 2005, The sociopolitical Internet in China, viewed on 20 September 2010.
This journal article mainly discussed the internet latest phenomenon in China and caught the attention of media and academic alike. This attention has hitherto been concentrated on the implications of the internet for China’s democratization. This journal article also gives you an idea about the sociopolitical diffusion and development of the internet in China beyond the democratization frame.
Brian Hindley 2009, Protectionism Online: Internet Censorship and International Trade Law, viewed on 20 September 2010.
This journal article suggests that many World Trade Organizations (WTO) members are legally obliged to permit an unrestricted supply of cross border interest services especially China. This journal paper also discusses types of censorship and gives some cases for it. Reason of internet censorship also can be found in this journal article. Lastly, this journal discuss the effect of internet censorship on e-commerce in China.
Kristina Wilson, Yaneli Ramos and Daniel Harvey, 2008, Google in China, vol. 5, no. 22 ,viewed on 10 October 2010.
In this journal, it is about search-engine giant Google struck a deal with the People's Republic of China and launched Google.cn. However, launching Google.cn required Google to operate as an official Internet Service Provider (ISP) in China, a country whose Communist government requires all ISPs to self-censor, removing content that is considered illegal from search results. From a financial perspective, China represented for Google a dynamic and fast-growing, though increasingly competitive, market. Google’s decision to self-censor Google.cn attracted significant ethical criticism at the time. The company’s motto is “Don’t Be Evil,” and prior to entering China, Google had successfully set itself apart from other technology giants, becoming a company trusted by millions of users to protect and store their personal information. The choice to accept self-censorship, and the discussion and debate generated by this choice, forced Google to re-examine itself as a company and forced the international community to reconsider the implications of censorship.
Other Sources
Dr. Tabrez Ahmad 2010, Internet Censorship in China is Politically Motivated and it May Reduce Growth of E-commerce and M-commerce, viewed 10 October 2010,
http://tabrezahmad.technolexindia.com/2010/01/25/internet-censorship-in-china-is-politically-motivated-and-it-may--reduce-growth-of-ecommerce-and-mcommerce.aspx
Hosea Lim 2010, Social Issues and Consequences of the Chinese Internet Censorship, viewed 10 October 2010,
http://ezinearticles.com/?Social-Issues-and-Consequences-of-the-Chinese-Internet-Censorship&id=5126189
Robert Olsen 2010, Chinese Migration to E-Commerce, viewed 10 October 2010,
http://www.forbes.com/2010/01/18/china-internet-commerce-markets-equities-alibaba.html
James Quinn 2010, China blocks Google again, viewed 15 September 2010,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/7917829/China-blocks-Google-again.html
BBC NEWS 2002, China blocking Google, viewed 13 September 2010,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2231101.stm
Censorship ,Types of Censorship, viewed 11 September 2010,
http://students.oneonta.edu/pichaw28/types.html
What is Censorship?, viewed 9 September 2010
http://gilc.org/speech/osistudy/censorship/index.html
This journal article mainly focus on the historical development of internet use in China. China’s internet censorship and its regulatory control also discussed in this paper. Besides, this paper also shows how the internet is actively utilized by both government and public to serve political and civic functions. Besides, this paper also discusses cyber crimes as an emergent form of crime in China and examines how the Chinese government reacts to it. Lessons from internet use and regulation in China also discussed within the context of China’s economic, political, and legal conditions.
Lokman Tsui 2005, The sociopolitical Internet in China, viewed on 20 September 2010.
This journal article mainly discussed the internet latest phenomenon in China and caught the attention of media and academic alike. This attention has hitherto been concentrated on the implications of the internet for China’s democratization. This journal article also gives you an idea about the sociopolitical diffusion and development of the internet in China beyond the democratization frame.
Brian Hindley 2009, Protectionism Online: Internet Censorship and International Trade Law, viewed on 20 September 2010.
This journal article suggests that many World Trade Organizations (WTO) members are legally obliged to permit an unrestricted supply of cross border interest services especially China. This journal paper also discusses types of censorship and gives some cases for it. Reason of internet censorship also can be found in this journal article. Lastly, this journal discuss the effect of internet censorship on e-commerce in China.
Kristina Wilson, Yaneli Ramos and Daniel Harvey, 2008, Google in China, vol. 5, no. 22 ,viewed on 10 October 2010.
In this journal, it is about search-engine giant Google struck a deal with the People's Republic of China and launched Google.cn. However, launching Google.cn required Google to operate as an official Internet Service Provider (ISP) in China, a country whose Communist government requires all ISPs to self-censor, removing content that is considered illegal from search results. From a financial perspective, China represented for Google a dynamic and fast-growing, though increasingly competitive, market. Google’s decision to self-censor Google.cn attracted significant ethical criticism at the time. The company’s motto is “Don’t Be Evil,” and prior to entering China, Google had successfully set itself apart from other technology giants, becoming a company trusted by millions of users to protect and store their personal information. The choice to accept self-censorship, and the discussion and debate generated by this choice, forced Google to re-examine itself as a company and forced the international community to reconsider the implications of censorship.
Other Sources
Dr. Tabrez Ahmad 2010, Internet Censorship in China is Politically Motivated and it May Reduce Growth of E-commerce and M-commerce, viewed 10 October 2010,
http://tabrezahmad.technolexindia.com/2010/01/25/internet-censorship-in-china-is-politically-motivated-and-it-may--reduce-growth-of-ecommerce-and-mcommerce.aspx
Hosea Lim 2010, Social Issues and Consequences of the Chinese Internet Censorship, viewed 10 October 2010,
http://ezinearticles.com/?Social-Issues-and-Consequences-of-the-Chinese-Internet-Censorship&id=5126189
Robert Olsen 2010, Chinese Migration to E-Commerce, viewed 10 October 2010,
http://www.forbes.com/2010/01/18/china-internet-commerce-markets-equities-alibaba.html
James Quinn 2010, China blocks Google again, viewed 15 September 2010,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/7917829/China-blocks-Google-again.html
BBC NEWS 2002, China blocking Google, viewed 13 September 2010,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2231101.stm
Censorship ,Types of Censorship, viewed 11 September 2010,
http://students.oneonta.edu/pichaw28/types.html
What is Censorship?, viewed 9 September 2010
http://gilc.org/speech/osistudy/censorship/index.html
