Big Brothers of every shade are watching, in China and the US
Big Brother is watching. And his face can look either Chinese or American these days. What is fascinating is that the world's leading authoritarian state and its greatest democracy look increasingly like the two sides of the same awesome state power crushing the lone individual in their respective societies. The Winston Smiths of China and the US watch out - your time is up.
Big Brother is watching. And his face can look either Chinese or American these days. What is fascinating is that the world's leading authoritarian state and its greatest democracy look increasingly like the two sides of the same awesome state power crushing the lone individual in their respective societies. The Winston Smiths of China and the US watch out - your time is up.
The latest news on the mainland is that anyone who spreads a rumour on the internet can earn themselves three years in the slammer. It appears the truth or falsity of the rumour is immaterial. What matters is its effect. The same rumour may land you in jail or not, depending on whether it has been forwarded more than 500 times or viewed more than 5,000 times. This runs counter to the very notion of the rule of law. An exemption, though, may be made if a legitimate allegation is made on the record against official corruption.
China's repression aims mainly at its own citizens. America's war in or on cyberspace has compromised the web's integrity for everyone, by deliberately weakening protocols on encryption standards and forcing US technology firms to create vulnerabilities for its cyberspies to snoop around. Of course, weakened protection on the internet also invites criminals.
Freedom in the 21st century is under threat everywhere. And "democracy" may be as much a threat as dictatorship.
