China closes Internet bars
p2pnet.net News:- The Chinese government boasts it’s shut down nearly 16,000 ‘unlicensed’ Internet cafes across the country since March this year.
“The General Administration for Industry and Commerce recently issued a circular to suspend registration of new Internet bars and profit-seeking song and dance halls, with the goal of creating a better environment for minors,” says ChinaTechNews here.
China’s Ministry of Culture recently announced plans to install a special video system in all Net cafes nationwide by the end of 2004. Once installed, the new system will require customers to enter name, age and their national citizen identification number before they’re allowed to log on.
“New supervisory centers will also be set up around the country to monitor the online activities of Internet cafe customers,” said the MoC.
“China has seen some dramatic events take place in Internet bars recently, which has led to the central government’s imposing of a rigid watch on such establishments,” says ChinaTechNews.
Staff working at internet cafes in northwest China quit following a “series of attacks” sparked when they asked for customer IDs.
The MoC ha salso imposed a censorship program against online games with, “content threatening state security”.
September 6th, 2004 at 8:16 pm
supervisory centers…. better environment for minors…. content threatening state security….
Give me a f*#$ing break! The Chinese government needs a swift kick in the rear. It’s 1960s style big brother maneuvers like this that is keeping there country firmly on the outside of the community of nations. The West will NEVER let them administer Taiwan if they continue to behave in this manner.
Chinese officials, if you’re listenting, try adopting something like this as a policy: The government “shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” You can still have freedom and not have elections, so you and your cronies can stay in charge.