SilentDefender.co.uk

Technical Stuff :: China to 'clean up' the internet

SilentDefender — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:41:51 GMT

Author: SilentDefender
Subject: China to 'clean up' the internet
Posted: Tue 06 Jan, 2009 06:41 (GMT 0)

By Michael Bristow

BBC News, Beijing

The Chinese authorities have launched a fresh campaign to get rid of unhealthy, vulgar and pornographic content on the internet.

The authorities have also published the names of 19 websites that have failed to heed requests to get rid of unsuitable material.

These include Google and China's top internet search engine, Baidu.

These websites could be closed down if they do not delete the offending material, according to one official.

China believes it has a duty to protect public morality.

Officials seem to be particularly concerned about pretty girls in suggestive poses that can be accessed through various websites.

They fear this and other "unhealthy" content could damage young people's physical and mental health.

Excuse for censorship?

The new campaign is being co-ordinated by a total of seven government ministries.

They have published the names of 19 offending websites that have so far ignored warnings to get rid of unsuitable content.

These websites are being told to clean up their websites - or else.

"We will continue to expose, punish or close down websites that have a lot of vulgar content," said one official, Cai Mingzhao, speaking on Chinese Central Television.

Officials also want the public to act as their eyes and ears in this campaign against sleaze.

But there is a fear the crackdown will not just be restricted to vulgar material.

The Chinese government keeps a firm grip on the internet, blocking certain websites and censoring some sensitive material.

This campaign could be used as an excuse to stifle political dissent in a country that allows little public criticism.

One of the websites that has been publicly criticised, Tianya, is popular with people who post their criticisms of the government.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/...fic/7811550.stm

Published: 2009/01/05 11:52:35 GMT

� BBC MMIX
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Technical Stuff :: Website age ratings 'an option'

SilentDefender — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:06:24 GMT

Author: SilentDefender
Subject: Website age ratings 'an option'
Posted: Fri 02 Jan, 2009 05:06 (GMT 0)

Film-style age ratings could be applied to websites to protect children from harmful and offensive material, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has said.

Mr Burnham said the government was looking at a number of possible new internet safeguards.

He said some content, such as clips of beheadings, was unacceptable and new standards of decency were needed.

He also plans to negotiate with the US on drawing up international rules for English language websites.

Mr Burnham, a father of three young children, believes internet service providers should offer child-friendly web access.

'Clearer signposting'

He told the BBC: "The internet is becoming a more and more pervasive entity in all our lives and yet the content standards online are not as clear as we've all been used in traditional media.

"I think we do need to have a debate now about clearer signposting and labelling online because it can be quite a confusing world, particularly for parents who are trying to ensure their children are only accessing appropriate stuff."

Mr Burnham's plans are likely to anger those who advocate the freedom of the worldwide web.

He insisted he was not trying to curb free speech, but wanted to protect the public from "unacceptable" material.

"It's not about banning or stopping people having that freedom of expression," he said. "It's simply about clearer signposting, more information, so people know where they're working."

John Carr, secretary of the UK Children's Charities' Coalition for Internet Safety, said other countries were looking at similar measures.

"Nobody would deny there are enormous practical problems," he told the BBC.

"There isn't a body, an obvious body, that could do this type of classification here in the UK at the moment, but it's definitely an aspiration that many governments across the world are now reaching to."

Concerns over children's safety on the internet have already led to calls from the NSPCC for computer manufacturers and retailers to install security to stop children finding violent or sexual content.

A poll carried out by the children's charity in October suggested three out of four children had been disturbed by images they had seen on the internet.

In July this year, the Commons culture, media and sport select committee criticised video-sharing website YouTube, saying it needed to do more to vet its content.

At the time, Google, the firm which owns YouTube, stressed the site had strict rules and a system that allowed users to report inappropriate content. HAVE YOUR SAY This suggestion has obviously been made by somebody who knows nothing about how the internet works Brendan, Birmingham, UK

Prominent warnings

Diana Sutton, head of policy and public affairs at the NSPCC, told the BBC News website she welcomed Mr Burnham's suggestions, but there were issues around how they would work.

"It's one thing to have a political commitment, but it's much harder to actually enforce it," she said. "We want these ideas to have teeth.

"And these mechanisms on their own aren't enough. They've got to be combined with greater parental awareness. Most parents have no clue what their children are up to online."

She said warnings about content, such as on social networking websites, must be displayed more prominently.

"What I think is missing from these proposals is that it's not just about what sites children might see, it's about who they might meet online," she added.

A spokesman for internet service provider BT said the company would need to see the details of Mr Burnham's plan before making any further comment.

In Saturday's wide-ranging newspaper interview, Mr Burnham also suggested he would allocate money raised from the BBC's commercial activities to fund other broadcasters, such as Channel Four.

On the future of the licence fee, he said: "Top-slicing the licence fee [to fund other broadcasters] is an option that is going to have to remain on the table."

But he added: ''I have to say it is not the option that I instinctively reach for first. I think there are other avenues to be explored."

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/7800846.stm

Published: 2008/12/27 15:28:48 GMT

� BBC MMIX
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Site Updates :: Website Stats For December 2008

SilentDefender — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:14:11 GMT

Author: SilentDefender
Subject: Website Stats For December 2008
Posted: Fri 02 Jan, 2009 04:14 (GMT 0)

Countries in order of most visited

Unresolved/Unknown - 11665 hits

Network - 8454 hits

Germany - 6957 hits

US Commercial - 6614 hits

US Educational - 2187 hits

France - 1820 hits

Switzerland - 1547 hits

Old style Arpanet (arpa) - 434 hits

Russian Federation - 340 hits

Others* - 831 hits

* Officially they was originally 30 countries recorded so grouped the rest as one.

Most popular times of visits (GMT)

As the above screenshot shows, 14:00-14:59AM was the busiest hour with 7819 visits (average of 252 visitors) whereas at the lowest recorded time, they were 160 visitors between 09:00-09:59 (average of 5 visitors).
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SilentDefender's Thoughts :: Seasons Greetings from SilentDefender to all my visitors

SilentDefender — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Author: SilentDefender
Subject: Seasons Greetings from SilentDefender to all my visitors
Posted: Thu 25 Dec, 2008 00:00 (GMT 0)

Regardless of what religion you are, Happy Holidays.

The year is almost gone and a lot of things have happened since the start of 2008, some good and some not so good.

I'd best get back to preparing the stuffing and the other last minute food preparations so that everything's ready for cooking our Christmas dinner.

Until my next message, I hope that you and your loved ones enjoy whatever holiday you celebrate on this day and that 2009 brings you a lot more happiness than 2008 did.
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