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June 21, 2005
I hate to be a nag, but . . .
I see that Bill Gates has held talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in an effort to stop software piracy: Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai pledged to combat software piracy during talks with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates on Monday as he became the most senior official of the communist state to visit the United States since the Vietnam War ended 30 years ago.Gates's concern is completely understandable. But since he had the Prime Minister right there, I would have liked to see him put in a word about government Internet and blog censorship. In that regard, Vietnam imitates China, as documented in a report from Reporters Without Borders: Vietnam follows the example of neighbouring China. Web content is extensively censored and e-mail is monitored in order to track down "subversive" Internet users. Seven cyber-dissidents are in prison.Obviously, no one likes cyber crime, or cyber criminals. But when governments lump Internet dissent with cyber-piracy, I don't think it's too much to ask that someone put in a kind word for the unjustly imprisoned. Maybe next time... ADDITIONAL THOUGHT: In light of earlier reports of Microsoft's collaboration with Chinese blog censorship efforts, maybe I'm being naive. I hope not. Asking people -- even repeatedly -- to stop and think shouldn't be considered naive. posted by Eric on 06.21.05 at 11:26 AM |
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Communists call themselves "dissidents" and infiltrate and subvert free institutions and work to bring about revolution in every free country, screaming "McCarthyism!" whenever someone dares to expose their subversive activities. And then, whenever and wherever they get control (including many of our universities), they immediately suppress all dissent.