It seems individual websites and blogs have to be registered and licensed by the Chinese government now.
Thisisn't new; information websites have always been required to get aInternet Content Provider license if they have their own domain name. Wang Jianshuosums up the situation nicely (the laws cited in that entry are a hootto read, with the whole pie-in-the-skyness of their provisions). Thedifference now is that apparently, they're now targetting personalsites now as well... presumably including those hosted on Xanga and thelike.
Choice quote from the Inquirer article: "one bloggerwho contacted the Shanghai police to register was told there was nopoint in registering as independent blogs would not be grantedpermission to continue."
Of course, then again, the following activities are also "not permitted" in China:
* spitting in public places
* jaywalking
* movie/music/software piracy
* running red lights
* corruption
Inother words, my other China-resident friends and I will be blogginghappily for quite a while to come. ;) Having a US passport and havingthis hosted on a US server also helps... I hope. But if by some chancethis page mysteriously disappears, now you know why... =P
Comments (5)
Hi RYU2! Dan read that this law applies only to sites that are hosted on Chinese servers. But who knows.
Posted by DanPei | June 9, 2005 10:11 AM
Posted on June 9, 2005 10:11
what?!? you mean, spitting in public places, jaywalking, and running red lights are NOT permitted in china?!? haha, be a rebel and keep up with the "illegal" blog. next thing you know, you'd be registering your e-mail and aim/msn messengers.
Posted by sojink | June 9, 2005 2:30 PM
Posted on June 9, 2005 14:30
My understanding is that in general, the law is designed to force people who have views to outside where they can be blocked. So.. i wouldn't be surprised if they started blocking AIM and IM.
Posted by sj_energizer_bunny | June 10, 2005 1:57 AM
Posted on June 10, 2005 01:57
hmmm...interesting.
Posted by aliceawei | June 10, 2005 2:46 AM
Posted on June 10, 2005 02:46
Awesome efforts in China, Mark. I just studied a course of Cyberlaw. I'd gladly defend your web site if any government tried to take it down!
Of course, today's technology can prevent regional users to access specific web sites in that country alone... so all your China-resident readers may have this problem in the future.
All in all, keep up the good fight and press on for Christ. Take care and God bless.
Posted by Maiku | June 10, 2005 8:00 AM
Posted on June 10, 2005 08:00