The news that Google is leaving China is causing headlines around the world. I was interviewed about the ramifications of the decision on yesterday’s current affairs program Hack on ABC’s Triple J:
Showing all posts tagged China
Google should be praised for taking on China
The decision of Google to essentially withdraw from China is highly significant and a (better late than never) acknowledgement that Beijing treats its citizens with contempt: Google shut down its search service in the Chinese mainland last night after a two-month standoff with Beijing over online freedom and an alleged intrusion by hackers. But Chinese…
A rare example of a web firm saying ‘no’ to China
A positive sign in many ways and shows that not all Western firms will always bow to Beijing’s demands. Of course, the flip argument is that the departure of Google will leave one… less non-Chinese company in the country, a group that may sometimes challenge strict web censorship: Google will today set out plans to close…
An idea that Israel really needs at this time
Popular conservative American blogger Glenn Reynolds: If I were the Israelis, not only would I bomb Iran, but I’d do so in such a way as to create as much trouble for China, Russia, Europe and the United States as possible.
How many more online addicts will we soon find in Havana?
What is the effect of Washington’s recent decision to allow web companies such as Google and Yahoo to operate in closed societies, such as Cuba and Iran?
When Barack Obama goes Down Under
My following article appears in the Huffington Post: The arrival of the new American Ambassador to Australia was breathlessly welcomed by the Australia media pack in late 2009. Jeffrey Bleich, an American lawyer from California, assumed his position in Canberra and was introduced to the country through an interview on the public broadcaster ABC. After…
When you’re feeling down and need a hand, turn to Beijing
If you’re a country that enjoys war crimes, rest assured either China or America will come to your aid: China is to lend Sri Lanka about $200m (…£133m) to build a second international airport in the south of the island. Another $100m from Beijing will help boost the island’s railway network, Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry…
Violence is a means and an end: an interview with Mark Danner
My latest article for New Matilda is an interview with leading American reporter Mark Danner: Leading US journalist Mark Danner calls a spade a spade and examines the political value of violence in this exclusive interview with Antony Loewenstein Mark Danner has some unusual characteristics for a mainstream US journalist. He has published in some…
Never forget that Beijing doesn’t trust its own citizens
Yes, China is a police state: Reporters Without Borders firmly condemns the Chinese government latest attempt to tighten its grip on the Internet. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced today that anyone wanting to operate a website would have to meet with regulators in person and bring identity documents.
The animal kingdom used to question the Great Firewall of China
Who said Chinese bloggers are happy with the country’s insanely tight web censorship? Famous amateur film-maker, Hu Ge, has recently made a new satirical piece on the Internet censorship in China. The 7-minute piece, ”˜Animal World: the Home-living Animal’ is styled as an animal-planet type of documentary and has attracted hundreds of thousands of views…