China lifts Facebook Ban Sort Of

[Thomas Promise]

http://money.cnn.com/2013/09/24/technology/china-facebook/index.html

[Doug]

Looks like we are outside of it.

[Randy W]

This is a more realistic assessment of it, from the Wall Street Journal

 

Internet ‘Concessions’ Coming to China? Don’t Hold Your Breath

 

http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2013/09/27/internet-concessions-coming-to-china-dont-hold-your-breath/

Also on Friday, a new article in the overseas edition of the People’s Daily (in Chinese) – that unlike the one posted Wednesday remains online –poured cold water on the prospect of an open Internet in only parts of China, saying that any such policy would be implemented consistently across the country.

 

It also tamped down any expectation of the Internet being opened at a specific time: “We cannot rule out that one day the Great Firewall will be gradually weakened until Internet management is diluted. But that would be the result of the comprehensive national strengthening of social development and an increase in government self-confidence, it would be the result of a China matching America in the balance of power, not because of people’s excessive enthusiasm.”

 

The article then says that the Shanghai free-trade zone should not “be reduced to the prey of political struggle.”

 

Given that, by the Communist Party’s own account, China has been strengthening “social development” for 60 years, the article is not much of an endorsement for a speedy change. It is also notable that China is in the midst of one of the biggest Internet crackdowns to date. In recent months, dozens have been arrested for spreading online rumors and some of China’s most influential online personalities have been forced to give confessions about their “irresponsible” Internet behavior on national television.