3 ms·

I'm curious, what is the difference between "Facebook was already blocked" and "Don't even think about Facebook", other than 5 years?

mtgx 9y ago
VPNs probably. They've started to crack down on those lately, too. Also, a random tweet I saw today apparently with a recording of China's CCTV surveillance system: https://twitter.com/0XDEDBEEF/status/912026226658652160 https://twitter.com/0XDEDBEEF/status/912026226658652160 No wonder China wants to be #1 in "artificial intelligence". Surveillance and censorship are likely the primary motivators for that.
- throwanem 9y ago
  Wow. That is some Person of Interest-level business right there.
- shpx 9y ago
  "One of the prominent Chinese VCs, Neil Shen from Sequoia China, was on the Economist's podcast recently talking about AI in China. When the host asked Shen about the Chinese state's use of AI in monitoring the citizens of China, Shen clammed up. It is an amazing bit of audio (starts around minute 8.) https://www.acast.com/theeconomistasks/theeconomistasks-howdoyouwintheairace- https://www.acast.com/theeconomistasks/theeconomistasks-howd... " https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15017622 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15017622
  - FabHK 9y ago
    Given the political environment he faces at home, it was nearly a bit unfair to put him on the spot like that. The silence speaks volumes, though. Most meaningful silence I've heard (?) in a while.
  - hbosch 9y ago
    Wow. This was fascinating, and terrifying both. Thank you for that link. To anyone else, I recommend listening to the whole 16 minutes actually - makes Mr. Shen's silence that much more stark.
- mhh__ 9y ago
  I can't read chinese: What kind of data do they have there?
  - ospider 9y ago
    labels on moving objects: vehicle, adult, child, bike, T-shirt, etc.
- nga911 9y ago
  At what level does china block internet access? Technology wise? It sounds impressive to be honest (in a scary way). I wonder if the US has similar tech that is ready to be deployed at will.
rubenbe 9y ago
There is no real difference, I kinda wanted to stress that no site ever gets unblocked (AFAIK).
- seanmcdirmid 9y ago
  CNN was blocked in 2002 (Tiananmen square was still fresh in people's minds) and isn't blocked today (CNN is a shadow of its former self, not very threatening). Ironically, because CNN was blocked, I started reading New York Times, which today IS blocked.

mtgx 9y ago

VPNs probably. They've started to crack down on those lately, too. Also, a random tweet I saw today apparently with a recording of China's CCTV surveillance system: https://twitter.com/0XDEDBEEF/status/912026226658652160 https://twitter.com/0XDEDBEEF/status/912026226658652160 No wonder China wants to be #1 in "artificial intelligence". Surveillance and censorship are likely the primary motivators for that.

throwanem 9y ago
Wow. That is some Person of Interest-level business right there.
shpx 9y ago
"One of the prominent Chinese VCs, Neil Shen from Sequoia China, was on the Economist's podcast recently talking about AI in China. When the host asked Shen about the Chinese state's use of AI in monitoring the citizens of China, Shen clammed up. It is an amazing bit of audio (starts around minute 8.) https://www.acast.com/theeconomistasks/theeconomistasks-howdoyouwintheairace- https://www.acast.com/theeconomistasks/theeconomistasks-howd... " https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15017622 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15017622
- FabHK 9y ago
  Given the political environment he faces at home, it was nearly a bit unfair to put him on the spot like that. The silence speaks volumes, though. Most meaningful silence I've heard (?) in a while.
- hbosch 9y ago
  Wow. This was fascinating, and terrifying both. Thank you for that link. To anyone else, I recommend listening to the whole 16 minutes actually - makes Mr. Shen's silence that much more stark.
mhh__ 9y ago
I can't read chinese: What kind of data do they have there?
- ospider 9y ago
  labels on moving objects: vehicle, adult, child, bike, T-shirt, etc.
nga911 9y ago
At what level does china block internet access? Technology wise? It sounds impressive to be honest (in a scary way). I wonder if the US has similar tech that is ready to be deployed at will.

rubenbe 9y ago

There is no real difference, I kinda wanted to stress that no site ever gets unblocked (AFAIK).

seanmcdirmid 9y ago
CNN was blocked in 2002 (Tiananmen square was still fresh in people's minds) and isn't blocked today (CNN is a shadow of its former self, not very threatening). Ironically, because CNN was blocked, I started reading New York Times, which today IS blocked.