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I see. This is why they needed to hack into Google/Gmail in 2011 because nobody has the brainpower in China to circumvent it. Also, are seriously suggesting tha

I see. This is why they needed to hack into Google/Gmail in 2011 because nobody has the brainpower in China to circumvent it. Also, are seriously suggesting that you can only only do organizing on platforms that are blocked by the firewall? It still amazes me how ignorant people are in the west. And there is the cultural difference. In China people use Wechat in a similar fashion as we use Facebook, they share pictures etc. Finally, almost non of my Chinese friends who live in the west use FB even though they have the liberty to do so. Similar story in Vietnam and many other countries. Again, somebody has to be quite ignorant not to see FB as a national security treat. Even the US recognised that, you might have seen the congressional hearing of Zuckaberg, which was quite a shit show for many reasons. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-hacking-idUSTRE7506U320110602 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-hacking-idUSTRE750...

owens99 8y ago
> Also, are seriously suggesting that you can only only do organizing on platforms that are blocked by the firewall? This seems reasonably accurate. The gov has complete access to Wechat's data and can create, edit, or destroy any content they choose. They regularly run ML algorithms across the whole network to identify whatever they want. They can't do this with Facebook or WhatsApp.
ardy42 8y ago
> Also, are seriously suggesting that you can only only do organizing on platforms that are blocked by the firewall? It still amazes me how ignorant people are in the west. The domestic Chinese social networks are fully staffed with censors [1] and likely police surveillance, so it would obviously be more difficult and dangerous for Chinese people to organize on them. The great firewall blocks the foreign that aren't willing to fully participate in that censorship and surveillance regime and that are large enough to be a threat, and the Communist Party likely judges the foreign operators to be less reliable partners in any case. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/02/business/china-internet-censor.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/02/business/china-internet-c... Another factor that makes domestic Chinese websites a poor choice for political organizing and activism is the PRC government's efforts to make all web activity traceable to a national ID number. Why do you think it's now difficult to impossible to buy a activated SIM card at a corner shop, and why WIFI access points and most websites require an access code be sent by text message before you can get online or create an account? > Finally, almost non of my Chinese friends who live in the west use FB even though they have the liberty to do so. I don't use FB even though I have the liberty to do so. > Again, somebody has to be quite ignorant not to see FB as a national security treat. There are some very important distinctions that you're missing. The free exchange of ideas among citizens is not a national security threat unless you're a regime that is opposed to human rights [2] [3]. The issue with Facebook is really one of state-sponsored impersonation. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_Number_Nine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_Number_Nine [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/20/world/asia/chinas-new-leadership-takes-hard-line-in-secret-memo.html https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/20/world/asia/chinas-new-lea...

owens99 8y ago

> Also, are seriously suggesting that you can only only do organizing on platforms that are blocked by the firewall? This seems reasonably accurate. The gov has complete access to Wechat's data and can create, edit, or destroy any content they choose. They regularly run ML algorithms across the whole network to identify whatever they want. They can't do this with Facebook or WhatsApp.

ardy42 8y ago

> Also, are seriously suggesting that you can only only do organizing on platforms that are blocked by the firewall? It still amazes me how ignorant people are in the west. The domestic Chinese social networks are fully staffed with censors [1] and likely police surveillance, so it would obviously be more difficult and dangerous for Chinese people to organize on them. The great firewall blocks the foreign that aren't willing to fully participate in that censorship and surveillance regime and that are large enough to be a threat, and the Communist Party likely judges the foreign operators to be less reliable partners in any case. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/02/business/china-internet-censor.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/02/business/china-internet-c... Another factor that makes domestic Chinese websites a poor choice for political organizing and activism is the PRC government's efforts to make all web activity traceable to a national ID number. Why do you think it's now difficult to impossible to buy a activated SIM card at a corner shop, and why WIFI access points and most websites require an access code be sent by text message before you can get online or create an account? > Finally, almost non of my Chinese friends who live in the west use FB even though they have the liberty to do so. I don't use FB even though I have the liberty to do so. > Again, somebody has to be quite ignorant not to see FB as a national security treat. There are some very important distinctions that you're missing. The free exchange of ideas among citizens is not a national security threat unless you're a regime that is opposed to human rights [2] [3]. The issue with Facebook is really one of state-sponsored impersonation. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_Number_Nine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Document_Number_Nine [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/20/world/asia/chinas-new-leadership-takes-hard-line-in-secret-memo.html https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/20/world/asia/chinas-new-lea...