China Putting Pressure On Business To Help Censor The Web

[engine]

As the Chinese cyberpolice stiffened controls on information before the Communist Party leadership transition taking place this week, some companies in Beijing and nearby cities received orders to aid the cause.

Starting earlier this year, Web police units directed the companies, which included joint ventures involving American corporations, to buy and install hardware to log the traffic of hundreds or thousands of computers, block selected Web sites, and connect with local police servers, according to industry executives and official directives obtained by The New York Times. Companies faced the threat of fines and suspended Internet service if they did not comply by prescribed deadlines.

China Putting Pressure On Business To Help Censor The Web [nytimes.com]

[lucy24]

Headline: Dog Bites Man.

[bill]

This appears to be much more aggressive than the last push I remember. Then they were focusing more on the individuals to police themselves (and those around them). This time around the technology has improved and they're plugging the holes in the Great Firewall with new network bugs.

I don't recall them being so aggressive with joint-venture or foreign owned firms in the past though...