Popular Mobile VPN Services Shut Down in China

[SoGood]

Does it matter? The Chinese are happy.

Culturally speaking, total freedom, like a Western democracy, is quite foreign to a lot of Asian cultures. Even in democratic countries like Japan and Korea, family life is strict and patriarchal. If these countries were to gradually revert back to a benevolent dictatorship, I'm not even sure if the people in those countries would even mind.

I think that's quite true. Different culture and different expectations. From what I have seen, the amount and degree of complaint about their govt is not too different to those in the US and Australia, mostly on similar issues. On Internet and based on my multi-week stay over Dec-Jan, overseas sites can be slow or not accessible (mostly those that heavily criticise China) but locals mostly worry not as the great majority only access local Chinese language sites. The need for services like FB/Twitter etc are way overblown as the Chinese live on WeChat and Weibo. FB/Twitter matters little to the great great majority. As another have said, it's their country. Apart from accessing those blocked Western sites and services, I also understand VPN has been heavily used by the criminal elements. Would blocking reduce those issues? It may or may not. It seems similar that our Western enforcement agencies have been demanding for decription too. So that's how the world spins. PS. I did use my private VPN server for my needs. I also understand the corporate world also had VPN services unimpeded. The restriction seemed to be specific to private users.
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So you speak on for all China and propagate the notion that Asians are subservient and footbound and like it...?

Are citizens of Western countries totally free? I don't think so either. I see plenty these days being restrained from speaking up for the muslims amongst others in the society.

 

[sudo1996]

the chinese can use use any vpn service online for free, whats the point of this?

Makes it harder for the average non-tech-savvy person to send/receive packets anonymously.
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Their country, their rules, although history has shown that censorship always backfires eventually.

Brain drain. The talented people will continue to emigrate. >50% of the talented people I know are Americans from China or Chinese-American immigrant families.

 

[Shirasaki]

Makes it harder for the average non-tech-savvy person to send/receive packets anonymously.
[doublepost=1499152442][/doublepost]
Brain drain. The talented people will continue to emigrate. >50% of the talented people I know are Americans from China or Chinese-American immigrant families.

As it continues, China will eventually find they are losing the best people of each industry.

However, it seems that Chinese government does not care losing those people. Their propaganda influence is greater than before in western world. I have seen many international students from China still have no idea what google is and still blindly believe everything CCP said is correct. Merely a remote doll controlled by CCP elites.

 

[nicho]

I travel to China several times a year and of course end up using a VPN while I'm there. I always get nervous when I do, so I limit it to when I really need to get to something (Facebook isn't worth it).

I can never understand why certain things are blocked. For example, I had to use a VPN to get to AT&T's site to pay a bill while I was there. Not sure that AT&T is really trying to be subversive to the Chinese government.

Don't focus on the website as a street address, but the web servers hosting it as a town. sometimes, they don't just block the house but the whole town and things get caught up in the filter. for example, i'm unable to download any updates to istat menus.

 

[jeyf]

Not china or America but few countries will promote a more encrypted internet.

 

[Galacticos]

SERIOUSLY, STOP.

If you guys are worried that topic would turn into political shouting match, just don't allow comments at all. Probably for the best in this political climate.

I'm not sure it's ever for the best that discussion isn't allowed.

And it's especially important when people are using phrases like 'this political climate'

 

[SoGood]

As it continues, China will eventually find they are losing the best people of each industry.

It's a tightly connected world and people travel. You'd be surprised the number of 'best people' who are going back to China to set up their ventures and making hits. People go where the opportunities are.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

They aren’t caving. The law is the law in China and either Apple can follow it or close their business there. I didn’t shoot my neighbor, so am I caving into the demands of the US government? Not everything is a heroic battle, and it’s not Apple’s job to police another nation’s citizenry.

It certainly could be worse. Like when Cisco (and others?) actively helped create the Great Firewall, and Google had a lot to do with keeping the Chinese government parasite happy.

 

[jeyf]

anyways let the cat and mouse begin.

 

[riverfreak]

You can configure VPN's in iOS already.

Not with a kill switch. And not with a per app basis.

Moreover, it should be even simpler. It shouldn't even mention "VPN" which most people don't know about or understand.

On first launch, iOS/MacOS should say "Do you want to securely transmit your internet traffic? This may slow your connection but will add increased security for your communications". Done.

I'd argue that Apple should provide this as a free, baked in service, enabled by default.

 

[jeyf]

... I'd argue that Apple should provide this as a free, baked in service, enabled by default.

i dont see Apple being a functional VPN provider. When shopping for a VPN:
-the vpn service dosnt keep records of your traffic
-there is no government interference
-the VPN companies head quarters is based and does their BANKING out side the country you live in

 

[stylinexpat]

I travel to China often. Quite difficult to get a VPN to work there. When one does get it to work it is very very very very slow and does not stay connected for too long before disconnecting.