China Tightening Noose on Electronic communication.

[Stelliform]

New regulations have been issued to allow mobile phone service providers to police and filter messages for pornographic or fraudulent content.

But analysts fear the real targets are political dissidents.

China's authorities are gradually tightening control over the spread of electronic information, particularly on the internet.

A Paris-based group, Reporters Without Borders, says the Chinese authorities are increasingly using new technology to control information.

It says one Chinese company marketing a system to monitor mobile phone text messages has announced it is watching for "false political rumours" and "reactionary remarks".

Venus Info Tech Ltd said in a press release that its surveillance system worked by filtering algorithms based on key words and combinations of key words.

Certain key words could trigger an automatic alert to the police.
BBC Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3859403.stm)

The register link (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/02/china_text_snoop/)

[Ugg]

Nothing new here, China is continually trying to clamp down on communication. Technology always seems to stay one step ahead of them though, remember the fax machines during Tiannamen?

I do wonder though how long the Chinese government can continue its plan to limit dissent? Is another revolution in the offing?

[skunk]

Isn't this just like the fabled Echelon?

[takao]

Isn't this just like the fabled Echelon?

nope china will use it perhaps only on it's own citizens.. not on the citizens of other countries ;)

[skunk]

Echelon Home Edition?