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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Why does the Great FireWall exist?
ok, my 'duh' question for the week...
why have the GFW ? It seems that whatever it does can be circumvented by those who so desire.
Ok, a little more specific,,, why block Face Book ??? FB seems way harmless.... Is it protectionism for their own Social Networking sites? Or are they just envious of FB's popularity? Or is an anti-America thing?
Please explain this to me !!
comments regarding why youtube is blocked would be appreciated also.
"The worst thing about censorship is <censored>."
I think it's partly protection of China's own social network sites, as you said, but I think it's probably also deemed undesirable to have such a free-flow of open chatter between China and the outside world as would be offered by allowing Facebook. As it is things are still relatively contained. As for Youtube, God knows that would be far too much of a threat. Who knows what you'd find if you looked up Tibet or Tianamen Square for example.
I don't know about Facebook but I suspect it is because FB already has a worldwide network and they don't want their people having so much access to networks where anyone can speak their minds. In promoting their own version of FB they know it will be substantially only used by Chinese here and therefor is "contained" more easily. Youtube has too much on their that CCP do not want the Chinese to have access to, including porn, items on Tibet and Tianamen Square, and alternative news channels showing news items on China that the Party do not want the general population knowing. However it does seem futile blocking these sites when anyone with a VPN can access them, and there are millions here who do. I guess the Party can say they are "protecting" the people and claim that those who do access these sites are undermining the harmonious society.
The simplest answer is
"Both Facebook and You tube has world wide reach..means through this two website any message can reach in any corner of the world... "
i guess it is not worldwide reach which is the issue... websites in china are required to be strictly controlled as required by govt... but these international sites refuse to comply with the chinese govt strict rules.. so they are blocked...
eg: search 'porn' in baidu & google images with safesearch off..!!
facebook, youtube, twitter led to the arab spring. people were able to communicate and get videos broadcasted to the outside world. china saw this potential long ago.
china limits the amount of information nationals receive and they limit the amount of information that gets sent out. tencent has built in filters, censors and back doors that the gov can use to control the users.
it has nothing to do with protectionism (as far as limiting competition) they use that excuse to cover for the real excuse.
because any override of restrictions provided by GFW is in this case "meant", so person who violates government restrictions can be prosecuted with no doubt about "is he intended to do it or not"
for example. porn is in China illegal, right? when using VPN you can still access it, but if You do it... You break the law intentionally
if there was no GFW operating - You could always say "oh sorry, i was sure, that gov. is filtering www to allow only approved content, so I did it by mistake". But there is no mistake when You activate VPN.
Btw. How do You think... all VPN's are provided by west-located and independent institutions, or maybe some of best providers are connected with gov. and logs can be provided to "right" institutions?
Allowing "hole" in the Wal - seems that on the other side of this hole is not always cheese... for all "smart" mouses.
1)protect local social network as you said.
2)hope control people's mind so that they will not against gov.
I think it is because the government does not want Chinese people to see certain things.