Search:  

 
 
   News
newer
story category China Must Lift Great Firewall During Olympics
Olympic badminton coverage must get through!
11:37AM Tuesday Apr 01 2008 by Karl Bode
tags: legal · Politics · world · content
Tipped by TK Junk Mail See Profile
The International Olympic Committee has warned China that the country must lift their Internet censorship system while the Olympics are in town, reports the Associated Press. The IOC tells China that as part of their agreement as an Olympic host city, they must provide unfettered web access to the estimated 30,000 journalists that will be in attendance. Once the sporting event leaves town, China can return to their techno-oppressive ways -- which have ramped up after their crackdown on Tibetan protesters.

Related:
  1. Swiss Bank, CA Court Censor Whistleblower Website
  2. Israel Latest To Force ISPs To Block Piracy
  3. Bell Canada Seeks Death Blow For Indie ISPs
  4. French ISPs to Start Banning Websites
  5. Canadian DMCA May Actually Be Worse
  6. Sweden Adopts Extensive Wiretapping Law
  7. U.S. Broadband Cannot Be Fixed Until You Tackle Corruption
  8. Britain's Six Largest ISPs Forge Anti-Piracy Alliance
Forums » China Must Lift Great Firewall During Olympics
view: topics flat text 
Post a:
page: 1 · 2

Vathral
Premium
join:2002-08-26
New York, NY
clubs:

Hmmmm

This might be intereting

TK Junk Mail
Go ahead, make my day
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Margate City, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast


edit:
April 1st, @11:46AM

Re: Hmmmm

said by Vathral See Profile :

This might be intereting
Yes, the IOC hasn't said what it would do if China doesn't comply. Call them names?? Give China bad PR?? It doesn't look like there is any teeth in their threats.

IOC says:
Kevan Gosper, vice chairman of the IOC coordinating commission, said restricting access to the Internet during the games "would reflect very poorly" on the host nation.
The brute!! I am sure China is quaking in their boots.
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
jc100

join:2002-04-10
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: Hmmmm

IOC could refuse to sanction the games and have lots of money pulled out I am sure. One of the big ways Olympics make money is through sponsorship. I am sure the IOC holds the rights to decide who comes and go. I highly doubt they would take it that far, but who knows. I am sure it's one of their options and this could cost China TONS of money if it were to happen.

TK Junk Mail
Go ahead, make my day
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Margate City, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast

Re: Hmmmm

said by jc100 See Profile :

IOC could refuse to sanction the games and have lots of money pulled out I am sure. One of the big ways Olympics make money is through sponsorship. I am sure the IOC holds the rights to decide who comes and go. I highly doubt they would take it that far, but who knows. I am sure it's one of their options and this could cost China TONS of money if it were to happen.
Doesn't appear that China is overly concerned:

When asked about Gosper's comments, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said China's "management" of the Internet followed the "general practice of the international community."

She acknowledged that China bans some Internet content, and said other countries did the same. She declined to say if the Internet would be unrestricted for journalists during the Olympics.

--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
moonpuppy

join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

Re: Hmmmm

Don't think the IOC wants a repeat of Moscow 1980.
jc100

join:2002-04-10
·RoadRunner Cable

Well it's all about appearances. China has a way of acting unconcerned but they are a money driven society like everyone else. China has only seen such growth happen in the last 10 years. I guarantee they don't want jeopardize that or future investments. Such a stigma of an unfriendly investment environment can haunt one.

TK Junk Mail
Go ahead, make my day
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Margate City, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast

»news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080403/wr_···media_dc
Media will have access to uncensored Internet and there will be no delay of the television signal at the Beijing Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Thursday.

China routinely censors the Internet and delays or censors television signals but the IOC's chief inspector said Beijing organizers had assured his team that the 30,000 media expected to cover the August 8-24 Games would not be effected.

He also said television cameras would be allowed to film on Beijing's central Tiananmen Square.
Of course, none of this means China will give their own citizens uncensored access.
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page

delt4
Anywhere but North
Premium
join:2000-07-13
Pittsburgh, PA
·Comcast

said by jc100 See Profile :

IOC could refuse to sanction the games and have lots of money pulled out I am sure. One of the big ways Olympics make money is through sponsorship. I am sure the IOC holds the rights to decide who comes and go. I highly doubt they would take it that far, but who knows. I am sure it's one of their options and this could cost China TONS of money if it were to happen.
Either that, or China would seriously jeopardize any bid for future olympics as well.

DownTheShore
R.I.P Bobby Murcer
Premium
join:2003-12-02
Edison, NJ
clubs:
They could always withdraw IOC sanction from the event and not issue the medals or allow any records set to be officially counted.
--
Life is simply one damned thing after another.
slckusr

join:2003-03-17
Maumee, OH

hmm

very interesting. Wonder if this is gonna fly.

n2jtx

join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
·Optimum Online

And if they don't?

And if China does not provide unfettered web access, what is the IOC going to do? Shut down the Olympics and take they somewhere else? I think not. China is holding all the cards now and they are free to do what they want regardless of any agreements.

This should get interesting indeed!
--
I support the right to keep and arm bears.
slckusr

join:2003-03-17
Maumee, OH

Re: And if they don't?

Im not sure the committee could even pull the Olympics from china, with all the commercial interests involved (sponsers buildings travel plans etc...) It cant just be as easy as saying ok no more olympics for you.

Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium
join:2002-12-17
Panama City, FL

Re: And if they don't?

Well, if the IOC says China is not following the "rules", then I wonder how many "free" countries might boycott the games. Some sponsors might as well if they deem the publicity from such a move could help them more than sponsoring the olympics.

Raptor
Not a Dumptruck

join:2001-10-21
London, ON

Re: And if they don't?

It may even be *good* publicity and worth more for a company to condemn so the company can be held publics good books. That is if they don't have factories in China ....

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest

said by Boogeyman See Profile :

Well, if the IOC says China is not following the "rules", then I wonder how many "free" countries might boycott the games.
All the free countries who haven't tied their economies to China and want cheap resources, labor, and goods to profit on back in their country.....
.... Wait.

.... SO, none, then. No boycotts. It's all about the money, principles be damned.
--
"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!)

narcis

Key word is Journalists

The key word is to journalists, not the general population.

They'll just set up some sort of proxy server for journalists to go through to get past the firewall.

kyler13
Is your fiber grounded?

join:2006-12-12
Arnold, MD

Re: Key word is Journalists

Lenovo proxy server, of course.

viperpa33s
Why Me?
Premium
join:2002-12-20
Bradenton, FL
·Bright House

Just a PR stunt

China has been blocking access for the longest time and now all of a sudden the IOC has a problem with it? Why wasn't the IOC concerned about it when China first got approved to host the Olympics? It's just a PR stunt by the IOC to have people believe they are concerned about it when in fact there statement means nothing.

What China does means nothing. The players are still going to compete in the Olympics. People are still going to watch the Olympics. In the end China got what they wanted.

Moon1234

@tds.net

Re: Just a PR stunt

I am not going to watch the Olympics. I am boycotting a nation that has killed and oppressed more people than Nazi Germany.

ultracooldave

@verizon.net

Trust China?

I and everyone I know will not watch the drug ridden "Olympics",its meaningless with all the cheating, trust China? You can bet TV and internet will "temporarily" be down when they are running over the freedom fighters with tanks.

r81984
Tough to beat.
Premium
join:2001-11-14
Morgan City, LA

Why are the olympics in china???

China has no regard for human life. Why would this world reward them with the olympics?
--
»www.ryanoneill.us

CrazyFingers

join:2003-10-01
Columbia, MO

Re: Why are the olympics in china???

Well, the $350 billion they own in US securities have to count for something, right?
--
Burrow owl...burrow owl...

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Money. Moola. Dinero. $$$$ (Or these days Euros)

China is the 800-pound Gorilla these days. We've sold our economic future to China, we don't dare piss them off now.

AnonProxy
Proxy of Anon
Premium
join:2001-05-12
ß

China will have a big influx of Pr0n!

Yay!

GercekSeytan
Rockin' with Raki

join:2001-10-19
Turkey
·TTNet

Say What!?

The International Olympic Committee has warned China that the country must lift their Internet censorship system while the Olympics are in town, reports the Associated Press.
Oh, yeah! It's April 1. You almost had me believing the IOC was so dumb and arrogant that it would actually say that. What are they gonna do if China doesn't publicly respond, the Olympic games commence, and nothing has changed? Say, "Stop. Everyone must go home. See you in four years."?

LOL!
--
One day President Roosevelt told me that he was asking publicly for suggestions about what the war should be called. I said at once "The Unnecessary War". Sir W. Churchill, Second World War, 1948

Meh37

@verizon.net

Does it matter?

The Olympic Games haven't been worth watching since they stopped being about sportsmanship and became just another venue for commercialism. The "medal counts" shouldn't be by country; they should be by manufacturer.

xpkranger
No gnus is good gnus. -Gary Gnu
Premium
join:2000-10-27
Atlanta, GA
clubs:

I'm sure the IOC has made China just piddle in their pants..

The IOC has no teeth and no b*lls, just like the U.N. Maybe they could do China like they and Juan Antonio Samaranch (sp?) did Atlanta and say that they weren't the "Best Games Ever". ...BFD... This rock is already rolling down the hill and it's not going to be stopped. I don't see any of the G8 countries having the incentive to do anything as drastic as not send teams over because of filtered internet content. Fer Chrissakes, they (the UN or anyone else) wouldn't do anything to stop genocide in Darfur, Africa, what makes anyone think they give a flying ---- about internet access in China?
--
The early bird may get the worm, but the second rat gets the cheese.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

Toothless

What's the IOC going to do, cancel the games? Get real.
DJ_Kismuth

join:2001-11-25
Chicago, IL

WTF

How do the Chinese people put up with such a repressive, conservative, and illogical government? What kind of people would want to live in a country where the government tells you what you can and cannot do? (and what you can and cannot see on the internet)

How in the hell did China even get the Olympic bid???

I live in Chicago and our city is bending over backwards just for the consideration of the Olympics in 2016.

hmm.
Lord_Black

join:2006-07-08
Walnut, CA

Re: WTF

said by DJ_Kismuth See Profile :

How do the Chinese people put up with such a repressive, conservative, and illogical government?
Fear, nationalism, and brainwashed. Pick two.

quote:
What kind of people would want to live in a country where the government tells you what you can and cannot do? (and what you can and cannot see on the internet)

People such as the so-called liberals in the US who have been pushing for nanny-state here. 'But Big Brother only wants whats best for us! In time you all will love Big Brother too!'

quote:
How in the hell did China even get the Olympic bid???

How did Nazi Germany in 1936? How did the Soviet Union in 1980? IOC is corrupt or naive. Perhaps both.

quote:
I live in Chicago and our city is bending over backwards just for the consideration of the Olympics in 2016.

Maybe Chi-town needs to commit a few atrocities and they can shoot to the top of list.
Xizer

join:2004-02-05
Kenosha, WI


edit:
April 1st, @05:21PM

Re: WTF

said by Lord_Black See Profile :

People such as the so-called liberals in the US who have been pushing for nanny-state here. 'But Big Brother only wants whats best for us! In time you all will love Big Brother too!'
Man, someone fails at politics. As a liberal, I can confirm that a government like China has is the exact opposite of what I desire. In fact, most liberal positions are for less government infringement upon freedoms and more government control over corrupt organizations. Conservative positions are for more government control over freedom and less government control over corruption...

Pyrion
Liquid Metal Nanomorph

join:2001-12-01
Poway, CA
clubs:
·Cox HSI


edit:
April 2nd, @07:07AM

Re: WTF

Taken literally, it's not that the organizations are corrupt, it's that they aren't controlled by the government. The organizations can and likely will remain corrupt even under government control.

My suggestion to those that think affording the government greater powers will solve all of your problems: be careful what you wish for. Imagine the effects on life the powers you are willing to give to the government being in the control of your political and ideological rivals. Case in point: the FCC. Do you really want the government to have that kind of control if there's even the remotest chance that a government similar to, or worse than, the Bush Administration takes control for one to two terms or more? The enabling of greater governmental control isn't simply going to be rescinded just because it's not your guys in control.
--
"There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge." - Bertrand Russell

Tzale
Ron Paul 2008 - Proud Conservative
Premium
join:2004-01-06
NJ, USA
·Verizon FIOS
·Optimum Online

said by Lord_Black See Profile :

said by DJ_Kismuth See Profile :

How do the Chinese people put up with such a repressive, conservative, and illogical government?
Fear, nationalism, and brainwashed. Pick two.

quote:
What kind of people would want to live in a country where the government tells you what you can and cannot do? (and what you can and cannot see on the internet)

People such as the so-called liberals in the US who have been pushing for nanny-state here. 'But Big Brother only wants whats best for us! In time you all will love Big Brother too!'

quote:
How in the hell did China even get the Olympic bid???

How did Nazi Germany in 1936? How did the Soviet Union in 1980? IOC is corrupt or naive. Perhaps both.

quote:
I live in Chicago and our city is bending over backwards just for the consideration of the Olympics in 2016.

Maybe Chi-town needs to commit a few atrocities and they can shoot to the top of list.
Not much was known about NAZI Germany in 1936 besides it being a successful country that would be a good spot for the Olympic games.. Much of the world "found out" about NAZI Germany during / after WWII... The NAZIs did a good job at keeping the majority of their atrocities under cover. Of course, the racism was known, but the U.S. also treated blacks similarly.. Plus, I don't know when they picked Berlin for 1936, but it was probably several years before... Long before Hitler came to rise. Look at how long they picked China and England..

-Tzale
--
Neoconservatives (G.W.B) are not true conservatives. A conservative believes in defending the Constitution. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. - RON PAUL 2008 »www.usconstitution.net/const.html

ykronic
Premium
join:2006-01-31
Canada

said by DJ_Kismuth See Profile :

How do the Chinese people put up with such a repressive, conservative, and illogical government?
umm are you serious? Read what you just posted "repressive, conservative, illogical". revolution tends to go very badly in a dictatorship especially when the government has tanks and guns and you have......household utensils.
But lets even ignore the dictatorship part, what's 2+ billion chinese citizens going to do? pack up and move en mass?
Seriously it's not like they can just vote in a new government, and I doubt the average person has the money to just pack up and go or anywhere to go to.
Xizer

join:2004-02-05
Kenosha, WI

Re: WTF

What are you smoking? China only has one billion citizens.

It would also be a piece of cake if everyone in that country quit being a pansy and banded together to overthrow that communist government. Hmm, one billion vs. a few... I wonder who's going to win that one...

Pyrion
Liquid Metal Nanomorph

join:2001-12-01
Poway, CA
clubs:
·Cox HSI


edit:
April 2nd, @07:18AM

Re: WTF

The Chinese people have a work ethic that is unrivaled by any other people, including (and arguably, especially) Americans, such that they put up with far greater amounts of idiocy and corruption than most people would. Throw cultural nationalism into the equation and it's not all that surprising why China is the way it is. It's a natural extension of how China has always been, and the Communists in control are just the latest in a long line of despots.

For them, collectivism works. For us, not so much.
--
"There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge." - Bertrand Russell
Mce Saint

join:2007-10-03
Saint Louis, MO

said by DJ_Kismuth See Profile :

How do the Chinese people put up with such a repressive, conservative, and illogical government? What kind of people would want to live in a country where the government tells you what you can and cannot do? (and what you can and cannot see on the internet)
Crack a book and read about Chinese history.

Every nation's current political system is a consequence of it's history. Condensed version: Begin with a China that was a resource rich country stuck in a feudal-like political-economic system, add in a dose of foreign imperialist domination (Brits, Americans, etc.) that corrupted whatever incompetent Government China did have, add in a dash of defeat at the hands of a much smaller country (Japan) in WWII and voila!
Smith6612
Premium
join:2008-02-01
united state

Imagine...

...all of the things that can possibly go on if China does follow this complaint and shuts off their firewall. That place would be a mess with stuff after the games end.

M A R K
St. Ides Heaven
Premium
join:2001-06-15
Long Island
clubs:

LOL!

4/1

Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT
clubs:
·Verizon Online DSL
·Packet8

Re: LOL!

said by M A R K See Profile :

4/1
No it really is true..

»news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7324155.stm

M A R K
St. Ides Heaven
Premium
join:2001-06-15
Long Island
clubs:

Re: LOL!

Jokes on me then..
--
Neturei Karta

Seemseasy

@comcast.net

Re: LOL!

Sure seems easy for China to run some special lines into the official journalist area and offer them unfiltered Internet.

A bigger issue will be if journalists will be able to roam freely around china and report on some other issues going on or if the government will be all over them.

antwanp
Hoo Hoo, Fred. I invented everything
Premium
join:2002-05-14
Cedar Hill, TX
clubs:

Re: LOL!

China doesn't follow people around like the Soviet Union did, or North Korea does now. They wouldn't bother on a regular journalist.

jgkolt
Premium
join:2004-02-21
Lakewood, OH
clubs:

ha

this news article cracks me up
DrugSkill

join:2005-11-14
Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QC
·Videotron

Idiocraty

It's a matter of some years since there's a war between USA mafia & China triad and we're speaking about Olympics and firewalls, lol.... The world is full of shit, and all that is on purpose, let's face it.
Mr Matt

join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

An opportunity for the chariman

As soon as the firewall is lifted the chairman can download a copy of Hello Dalai from a nearby BitTorrent site for their viewing pleasure.

yeah

@comcast.net

So what!

What if China doesn't comply? What will they (the IOC) do? Spank them?

It's already set in stone... The Olympics are going to happen regardless.... I in my infinite wisdom just cannot seem to explain why China was chosen as host anyway. Who made THAT dscision?

The Olympics in China.. this is a really bad idea..

ultracooldave

@verizon.net

"comments" disappearing?

I would suggest you re-post my prior comment, along with the one comparing China's human rights record is worse that Hitlers in the 1930's and perhaps several others. My comment predicted that TV and the internet would "temporarily" not work should tanks be used to quell unrest, unfortunately live TV has already been banned from Tienanmen square and tanks have run over protesters there before-so where are there any reasons to take this type of post off? If you visited the Tibetan refuge centers in Darjeeling India and Katmando Nepal you would see things you never want to see again! If you realized that China is building a more modern military than ours! has the ability to shoot our military satellites down and is the only country on earth with hydrogen bomb tipped missles pointed at our cities and ready to fire you would start taking this "new" China seriously.
Forums » China Must Lift Great Firewall During Olympicspage: 1 · 2

Friday, 25-Jul
15:45:54
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Hosting by www.nac.net - DSL,Hosting & Co-lo | feedback | contact
8th year online! © 1999-2008 dslreports.com.