FC: Malaysia, China move toward more Internet restrictions

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

*********

Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 19:20:46 +0800
From: John Tanner <tanner () telecomasia net>
To: declan () well com
Subject: Helpless governments battle slander on the Net!

Hi Declan,

Keeping Politech abreast of the latest Internet censorship news from
this part of the world.

Item 1: The Malaysian government is considering forming a Press Council
to fulfill a need for "greater accountability and transparency" in
reporting -- which seems to mean being able to nail publications that
endanger national security by slandering the government. Judging from
the quote below (from a story published in local daily The Star but
by-lined by Bernama, the official state news agency), the council seems
specifically geared at Internet publications:

"It is an imperfect situation when only the print media is governed by
laws while those who indulged in sedition, the misuse of religion or
other criminal offences through cyberspace go scot free," Dr Rais
[Yatim, a minister in the prime minister's department] said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2001/5/13/nation/1310ihni&newspage=Search

++++++++++

Item 2: Chinese dissident Wang Jinbo has been arrested for "defaming"
police on the Internet, according to a report from AFP:

http://english.hk.dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/technology/afp/article.html?s=hke/headlines/010512/technology/afp/Chinese_dissident_arrested_for_defaming_police_online.html

Regards,

John Tanner
Global Technology Editor
Telecom Asia/Wireless Asia
Advanstar Telecoms Group
Tel: +852 2589 1328
Fax: +852 2559 7002
Email: tanner () telecomasia net
URL: www.telecomasia.net




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