US Congress Considers Guidelines on ISPs in China as Canadian Researchers Develop an Anti-Filtering Device

As China continues to filter free speech on the Internet, using a variety of methods to present a sanitized version of the worldwide web to its citizens, concern has been voiced over the involvement of North American Internet companies. In effect, China has set up a "Great Firewall of China" and has arrested dissidents who post subversive comments, such as tales of government corruption. US-based ISPs have been facing increasing pressure from both activists and government, in light of their involvement in the firewall. In some cases, it seems that the companies are unwitting participants trying to comply with local laws. Some argue that the mere presence of these companies as intermediaries will lead to more openness in the regime. US Congressional hearings involving Yahoo, Microsoft, Google and Cisco will start today. The hearings will investigate the ethical responsibilities that the companies have when doing business in China and may lead to the adoption of guidelines, either voluntarily or mandated, that govern Internet firms' involvement in repressive regimes. They may also highlight the need for North American governments to encourage China to adopt a notion of free expression on the Internet. Links to several news articles can be found here: http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q5B1124AC http://makeashorterlink.com/?R1D1414AC A related event involving Canadian technology is the announcement that research conducted at the University of Toronto has led to the development of a new anti-filtering system called "Psiphon" which has been designed not to leave footprints behind in users' computers. According to a news report, Psiphon works by giving monitored computer users a way to send an encrypted request for information to a computer located in a secure country. That computer finds the information and then sends it back, also encrypted. For the news story from The Globe and Mail, visit: http://makeashorterlink.com/?R4F1214AC Summary by: James Kosa