Posts Categorized: Censorship

Will tech firms challenge China’s ‘open’ internet?

Posted by & filed under Censorship, China, Civil Liberties, FaceBook.

China has been smart and ruthless in its control of the internet within its borders. It blocks some foreign sites altogether and it censors – heavily – what Chinese are allowed to see.  Nonetheless the big idea at this gathering is openness.  There wasn’t much openness about the “great firewall” that keeps out Twitter, Facebook, Google and… Read more »

Social media and censorship in China: how is it different to the West?

Posted by & filed under Censorship, China, Ethical Issues, ethics, IT and Politics.

China has disrupted WhatsApp in a censorship drive ahead of the government’s Communist Party meeting next month.  It has only been accessible through virtual private networks (VPNs) at times – but even some of them are being blocked.  Other social media platforms, which people in the West use every day, are also banned in mainland China.  Instead they’re replaced by… Read more »

Investigative reporter for CBS News continues to fight government electronic surveillance

Posted by & filed under Censorship, Civil Liberties, Cyberforensics, Cybersecurity, Electronic Surveillance, IT and Politics.

As an investigative reporter for CBS News, Ms. Attkisson was responsible for investigating and reporting on national news stories. Between 2011 and 2013, she investigated and prepared various high-profile news reports, including ones related to the “Fast and Furious” “gunwalking” operation and the attack on the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya… In 2011——at the… Read more »

Sextech as a necessity?

Posted by & filed under App Economy, Censorship, Civil Liberties, Entertainment, Ethical Issues.

Note: the video in this article contains graphic language.  Viewer discretion is advised. Entrepreneur Cindy Gallop is hellbent on bringing “sextech” out of the fringes.  You’re probably thinking: Does the world really need more connected vibrators or smart kegel trainers?  But Gallop defines “sextech” as any technology venture designed to innovate and enhance human sexuality…. Read more »

Tech firms seek to frustrate UK internet history log law

Posted by & filed under Censorship, Civil Liberties, Cybersecurity, Emerging Technologies, Ethical Issues.

Plans to keep a record of UK citizens’ online activities face a challenge from tech firms seeking to offer ways to hide people’s browser histories.  Internet providers will soon be required to record which services their customers’ devices connect to – including websites and messaging apps.  The Home Office (the UK department responsible for the… Read more »

Facebook made China censorship tool

Posted by & filed under Censorship, China, Civil Liberties, Cybersecurity, Ethical Issues, ethics.

Facebook worked on special software so it could potentially accommodate censorship demands in China.  Since 2009, the only way to access Facebook in China has been via a virtual private network – software designed to “spoof” your real location and avoid local internet restrictions.  Facebook, which has 1.8 billion active users, is aggressively looking to… Read more »

Canadian tech company Netsweeper helped Bahrain censor websites

Posted by & filed under Censorship, Cyberforensics, Cybersecurity, Ethical Issues.

Canadian technology company Netsweeper helped the Bahraini government block opposition party websites, various news websites and content critical of Islam, according to a new report by the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs. Source: CBC News Date: September 27th, 2016 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/netsweeper-bahrain-government-internet-censorship-1.3769803 Discussion 1) The article says that Netsweeper is” raising the alarm because they found… Read more »