Comments on: And there goes the continent… http://blog.pbwiki.com/2006/09/12/and-there-goes-the-continent/ The official blog of PBwiki Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:35:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: blocked in china http://blog.pbwiki.com/2006/09/12/and-there-goes-the-continent/#comment-29296 blocked in china Fri, 24 Aug 2007 04:55:46 +0000 http://pbwiki.com/blog/?p=7#comment-29296 You know, a local Chinese fellow recently sued China Telecom (the same people who appear to be blocking you) and he got unblocked because he made it into a commercial issue, not a political one. (see: http://www.danwei.org/media_regulation/suing_the_net_nanny.php) Every blogger (among other blocked sites) using blogspot/blogger to promote his or her business is essentially getting screwed commercially by the Chinese telecoms (because they in fact are the ones doing the blocking, not the nefarious security agencies -- who are just telling them to do it). It is clearly a form of digital trade embargo and should be treated that way. The Chinese gov never admits that they have a political reason for blocking this or that site, hence people should treat it exactly that way -- if it's not political, then it's either technical or commercial. (Just like that guy in Shanghai who sued China Telecom.) If technical, then a call to tech support ought to do the trick. If commercial, then do what anyone would do if a certain country suddenly kept turning a gajillion pounds of products for no stated reason whatsoever! Those of us in China -- Americans and Chinese -- do care about this a lot, and it would actually help advance Chinese democracy if American companies made a bigger deal about this. Tell your Congressperson that China Telecom is blocking you. Not "the Chinese gov is blocking you" -- because that's actually not true. It's the Telecom that is blocking you. Until the gov actually steps in and declares the block is being initiated by the government (which they never do), then it's a commercial issue. And the Telecom will be in the hot seat, not the government per se. Even Chinese courts will have to hear these cases. They have no choice. They have to live up to their own b.s. If the US Congress starts hearing the same story from small and medium sized IT companies all over the US, it will really start to matter. Why should China Telecom be blocking US companies in China and still be free to operate in America (via China Telecom USA and other subsidiaries) without any kind of trade penalties? Companies like Baidu.com trade freely on our stock exchanges and are yet given a clear competitive advantage over American companies by the inexplicable and seemingly reckless blocking of American websites who are their competitors. Or, Why Cisco be allowed to make a ton of money selling to the Chinese security services and PBWiki be prevented from providing a great service to the average law-abiding Chinese citizen? Rarely do free speech and free trade neatly in one issue. I should imagine that every member of Congress would have a strong interest in this issue. You know, a local Chinese fellow recently sued China Telecom (the same people who appear to be blocking you) and he got unblocked because he made it into a commercial issue, not a political one. (see: http://www.danwei.org/media_regulation/suing_the_net_nanny.php)

Every blogger (among other blocked sites) using blogspot/blogger to promote his or her business is essentially getting screwed commercially by the Chinese telecoms (because they in fact are the ones doing the blocking, not the nefarious security agencies — who are just telling them to do it).

It is clearly a form of digital trade embargo and should be treated that way. The Chinese gov never admits that they have a political reason for blocking this or that site, hence people should treat it exactly that way — if it’s not political, then it’s either technical or commercial. (Just like that guy in Shanghai who sued China Telecom.) If technical, then a call to tech support ought to do the trick. If commercial, then do what anyone would do if a certain country suddenly kept turning a gajillion pounds of products for no stated reason whatsoever!

Those of us in China — Americans and Chinese — do care about this a lot, and it would actually help advance Chinese democracy if American companies made a bigger deal about this.

Tell your Congressperson that China Telecom is blocking you. Not “the Chinese gov is blocking you” — because that’s actually not true. It’s the Telecom that is blocking you. Until the gov actually steps in and declares the block is being initiated by the government (which they never do), then it’s a commercial issue. And the Telecom will be in the hot seat, not the government per se. Even Chinese courts will have to hear these cases. They have no choice. They have to live up to their own b.s.

If the US Congress starts hearing the same story from small and medium sized IT companies all over the US, it will really start to matter. Why should China Telecom be blocking US companies in China and still be free to operate in America (via China Telecom USA and other subsidiaries) without any kind of trade penalties?

Companies like Baidu.com trade freely on our stock exchanges and are yet given a clear competitive advantage over American companies by the inexplicable and seemingly reckless blocking of American websites who are their competitors.

Or, Why Cisco be allowed to make a ton of money selling to the Chinese security services and PBWiki be prevented from providing a great service to the average law-abiding Chinese citizen?

Rarely do free speech and free trade neatly in one issue. I should imagine that every member of Congress would have a strong interest in this issue.

]]> By: Curt http://blog.pbwiki.com/2006/09/12/and-there-goes-the-continent/#comment-11 Curt Thu, 28 Sep 2006 03:56:39 +0000 http://pbwiki.com/blog/?p=7#comment-11 Unless the www.blogsafer.org domain skirts it? (What do I know from technology?) Unless the http://www.blogsafer.org domain skirts it? (What do I know from technology?)

]]> By: Marshall http://blog.pbwiki.com/2006/09/12/and-there-goes-the-continent/#comment-7 Marshall Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:57:09 +0000 http://pbwiki.com/blog/?p=7#comment-7 Bad news for blogsafer.org Bad news for blogsafer.org

]]> By: number5 http://blog.pbwiki.com/2006/09/12/and-there-goes-the-continent/#comment-6 number5 Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:57:26 +0000 http://pbwiki.com/blog/?p=7#comment-6 Hello from China! Sorry, no good news. I need to dig a hole on GFW to reach your peanut, damn! BTW: pbwiki is delicious! Thanks! Hello from China!

Sorry, no good news.
I need to dig a hole on GFW to reach your peanut, damn!

BTW: pbwiki is delicious! Thanks!

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