China Decrees Only Happy, Socially Beneficial Text Messages Are Allowed As Well
from the sense-a-pattern? dept
Last week, we noted that China had come out with new official rules for online news sites, saying that they could only report on news that was socially beneficial. It appears they’re going beyond just news sites to personal communications as well, saying that mobile operators needs to start blocking socially “unhealthy” text messages. Apparently, these text messages have “polluted society and spread very bad influence.” Sense a pattern here?
Comments on “China Decrees Only Happy, Socially Beneficial Text Messages Are Allowed As Well”
Eh?
How in the world would you enforce this? Would you have someone sit and moderate SMS messages? Or do you build a script to filter? Slang and misspellings can fool a script pretty easily (just think of the ways you can get past a language filter on any chat). Crazy Commies.
Re: The Computer is Your Friend
One way to enforce it would be to put a benevolent computer in charge of all of China, to make sure everyone is happy. This has been done before.
You mean we don't?
If I sent around text messages about killing politicians, poisoning restaurants, or targeting public buildings, I bet I could make funny men in black suits appear.
Re: You mean we don't?
I believe the difference is in the definition of the “unhealthy” message. You’re talking about actual threats against ppls lives. They’re talking about (and I am speculating here) kissing, sex, freedom and democracy.
But I do agree that when you look at it closely TANSTAAFS (apologies to Heinlein)
Re: You mean we don't?
I was once a resident in Shanghai,China; I received some txt messages from unknown numbers saying drugs,vipers,ammo availabe for trading….. Is it scaring?
Anti-spam
Actually, I think the crackdown is focussed on ‘spam’ SMS. The Chinese government just has a specific reason for disliking the practice rather than responding to its citizens complaints.
china
think about this. this is just the start of legislating morality. but you have to remember china is going to do what china is going to do. whether you like it or not.
No Subject Given
it’s like an extreme version of news censorship here in US.
Re: What News Censorship ??
What News censorship in the US ? Seven words you can’t say on brodcast TV/Radio, but sure as h3ll can on cable ? uhh…. the blogoshpere ? (Algore and Hillary would like to exercise some on that which leans right)
Pass the soma
I like being Chinese.
The Americans have to think all the time.
And the Japanese work so hard.
It is fun being Chinese.
Re: Pass the soma
Well, if you can get into a comfortable situation, sure. My understanding is that college graduates there still face a terrible job market, and the best students go to grad school in America, where they have to think all the time.
Hmm..
“1984” anyone?
censorship
The only diffenernce in China is that they’re told they are being monitored. In the USA, we like to pretend that people can’t monitor everything we do……ever heard of the patriot act? Are we so ignorant to think that we are “free” from such oppression? What do you think the NSA and CIA do anyway? They monitor “threats” or what they think are threats to the “American Way of Life”
Re: censorship
You are free to voice your opinion against the Patriot act, in contrast decrying the government in China is a death sentence.
The Patriot Act is incomparable to being persecuted, jailed, and beaten to death just because you are Christian. Yes they do crack down on ‘un-registered’ Christians.
There country
It’s their country, they do what they want; things are getting better there and I like that.
Here you can’t say 7 dirty words on TV/Radio.
You should a breast on TV and you get fined.
Things don’t seem to be getting better here
Happiness
I for one would be interested to know what the crime rate is in China, per 100 persons, as compared to the U.S. and other developed countries.
Specifically, what the suicide and murder rate is. Robberies and other crimes would be interesting to know as well.
Such studies might give an indication if “forced happiness” social policies are actually effective.
Blocking of net here
I am here in china for last couple of weeks and am facing issues like not able to see BBC news and such revilent links.
net here is blocked, just because they block news here doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.