Chinese government outlaws lewd texting
In the latest move to protect its citizens
against the immoral and democratizing influence of technology, the Chinese government has dictated that cellphone users
may no longer text one another with sexually explicit messages. Shenzen police will be running a campaign to inform the
public of this new danger to their freedom and yuan stacks, which will rather ironically include posters, banners, and
brochures depicting graphic examples of exactly what types of "nasty chat" are off limits (not really).The
law also covers sending threatening or fraudulent information, which seems pretty legit, but the threat of nine days in
jail and/or a $62 fine for something as harmless as a little intimate SMSing between significant others seems a bit
over-the top from our liberal Western standpoint. Next thing you know, Beijing will start limiting the Internet search
capabilities of its citizens and maybe even restricting the websites they can visit- and after that, hey, maybe they'll
go all out and decide to build some kind of big wall-like structure all around the country.[Via TechDirt]
Filed under: Messaging
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Can you hear me now? HELL NO! @ Feb 27th 2006 9:37PM
Well, those yellow bunnies over there get pregnant from this stuff without physical contact so I can't understand the government's reason.
Geez! 1.2B people and its amazing the Gov has so much control over so many.
Meet Red. Red's Square! @ Feb 27th 2006 11:53PM
Never underestimate the power of government propaganda.
Can I get a large mind control with two chicken McCommunists?
obakatron @ Feb 28th 2006 12:14AM
hey now - the chinese government is making sure none of us get any stds or bird flu of sms.
whitecue @ Feb 28th 2006 12:54AM
hi there, being a chinese i have to point out that there ARE some websites that are already "banned" here unless you use some proxy or stuff. for example being a military enthusiast myself i'm pretty pissed that i can't visit usmc.mil, and there are times you can't even use Google, and it's not a network failure. and to "Can you hear me now hell no", i don't think we are "yellow bunnies"
jimmy @ Feb 28th 2006 5:07AM
it's Shenzhen
Tulio @ Feb 28th 2006 8:18AM
Or they might even start rioting.
MoBil @ Feb 28th 2006 8:29AM
I should say so overpressure to come to a bad end.
blah @ Feb 28th 2006 10:54AM
To #4 and the parent. China DO use multi-layered "protection" to limit Internet search cababilities.
See the OpenNet Initiative here:
http://www.opennetinitiative.net/bulletins/005/
Apparently your connection to search websites gets disabled for a period of time after you submit a "banned" word.
To #1 and #2. Your posts are so offensive I don't even know where to begin.
blah @ Feb 28th 2006 11:02AM
Quote:
"The new national law specifies a fine of up to 500 yuan (US$62.5) and up to nine days' detention for those who repeatedly send text messages containing pornographic, threatening or fraudulent information."
I think the link description is quite misleading. Seems that the law is more in line to protect SMS porn spams than to limit a person's freedom to send explicit messages from what I have read. See that it's on the same line with sending threatening or fraudulent information. So it's probably more likely that the cases the receipient does not "like" what's being received?
I could be wrong though.
Dave @ Jun 17th 2006 10:56AM
#4 and #8, Evan was using irony above in regard to limiting searches and whatnot. If English is your second language, it's understandable that you missed that. We're all aware that China's government desires to limit what their people are exposed to in an effort to maintain control. And #8, I fail to see what is so offensive about #2's post... you seem to disagree with China's policy but are upset about some light Commie bashing?