China tightens its internet controls

THE GLORIOUS People's Republic of China has handed control of the internet within its borders to its newly established State Internet Information Office.

The Chinese government exerts the sort of Orwellian control over its citizens that would have made Stalin jealous, so this latest move might surprise only those living in caves and the newly born, however, its scale could raise some eyebrows.

The Chinese internet already sits behind a bamboo curtain or, as it is often known, the Great Firewall of China, which blocks or limits many services and web sites, so unless the authoritarian Chinese government is planning to send people around to its citizens' houses to observe their web surfing habits this could prove to be its most restrictive move yet.

The BBC reports that previously government control over the internet was governed by a number of low ranking units, something that often led to infighting, so now, with the State Internet Information Office, China will have just one jackboot to polish and a much more integrated stomping action.

The State Internet Information Office will be headed by Information Minister Wang Chen. So far we have been unable to ascertain whether he is on Facebook, and if so, whether he has 'liked' any Jasmine Revolution pages. µ