In China, Censorship is Called Security
Published July 31, 2008
This shouldn't surprise anyone. Although they consistently deny it, China has a history of spying on both business and government visitors. They also consistently get accused by governments around the world of hacking into sensitive systems.
Recently, there was a lot of speculation that Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez's laptop was hacked during a visit to China and the information was used to hack into government computers. Saavy business types have been quoted as saying that they do not carry laptops or smartphones with them while travelling in China. Of course, if you needed some more substantial proof China is behind a lot of espionage, you could read about all the people getting caught by the FBI stealing sensitive information for the People's Republic.
Senator Brownback made a statement on Tuesday that he was warned that the Chinese Public Security Bureau has made it mandatory for hotel chains to install spyware and special hardware by the end of July. Failure to install the required items (or disabling them afterwards) will lead to "punishment," according to a document in the Senator's possession.
Of course, all this is being done in the name of security, according to People's Republic officials. Oddly enough -- possibly to address privacy concerns — they plan to employ pop up windows warning people the Internet is not private in China. I'm sure this is assuring to privacy advocates, worldwide (pun intended).
On Tuesday, the Senator's staff handed out, to members of the press, English language translations of two separate documents he said were received by hotels, outlining the government's instructions on how to implement Internet spying software and hardware by the end of July.
In many people's opinions, the intention of this security system is to monitor people who might want to expose China's dismal human rights record during the games. In fact, Senator Brownback was initially warned about these so-called security measures by human rights advocates.
Further evidence of this is that on Tuesday, access to sites like Amnesty International or any with a Tibet address were being blocked at the main Olympic press center in Bejing, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.
Senator Brownback announced during the press conference that he and Senator Bunning of Kentucky were introducing a resolution calling on China to suspends its plan to censor free speech and spy on people. It should be noted that years ago, when bidding for the games, China promised not to do this.
While many speculate the intent of this so-called "security system" is to supress free speech (censor people), I'd highly recommend anyone with sensitive information be extremely careful if they are in China during the Olympic games. The real espionage and hacking will not be as apparent as this has been. A good place to learn about Chinese hacking and espionage is the Dark Visitor site, which should give anyone a good idea what information risks they might face during a visit to China.
- In China, Censorship is Called Security
- Published: July 31, 2008
- Type: News
- Section: Politics
- Filed Under: Politics: International, Politics: Law and Rights, Politics: U.S., Sci/Tech: Internet
- Writer: Ed Dickson
- Ed Dickson's BC Writer page
- Ed Dickson's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
Caledonian Jim,
Can you be a bit more specific about censorship by the United States Government? I must admit that I haven't noticed much not legitimately related to national security, but perhaps you could enlighten me. For example, which internet sites expressing views in opposition to U.S. policies have been blocked?
Dan
Hell, I'd be satisfied to hear about the US citizens who have been dragged from their homes while not engaging in terrorist activities and imprisoned at GITMO.
(crickets)
Dave
When I read this article headlined "Travelers' Laptops May Be Detained At Border" in today's Washington Post I thought, "What the Hell is China up to now?"
Unfortunately, I was wrong. It appears that the U.S. Government is now confiscating laptop computers and other data bearing devices from people, including U.S. citizens, entering the country. No suspicion of wrongdoing is required.
Federal agents may take a traveler's laptop or other electronic device to an off-site location for an unspecified period of time without any suspicion of wrongdoing, as part of border search policies the Department of Homeland Security recently disclosed.The confiscation of such devices has been increasing in recent months, according to the article.
Also, officials may share copies of the laptop's contents with other agencies and private entities for language translation, data decryption or other [unspecified] reasons, according to the policies, dated July 16 and issued by two DHS agencies, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. . . . The policies cover "any device capable of storing information in digital or analog form," including hard drives, flash drives, cell phones, iPods, pagers, beepers, and video and audio tapes. They also cover "all papers and other written documentation," including books, pamphlets and "written materials commonly referred to as 'pocket trash' or 'pocket litter.'"
Not censorship, exactly, but pretty scary.
Dan
Yet another reason why it is going to be a long time before I go to the USA again. The ironically called land of the free is getting more and more repressive. Is this an example of winning the war but losing the peace?
I could understand this new policy if it applied to people leaving the country who might be transporting classified technology info or something along those lines, but what data could you bring IN to the country which would be an issue of concern?
Dave
It's a new wealth redistribution program. The confiscated laptops, cellphones, iPods, etc. are being given to poor people who can't afford to buy their own.
Sneakers are next.
Sneakers? They make 'em there.
In China, the Chinese do what they please. It's their perogative. It has been rather proven that since the take over by the Stalinists/communisits (later morphed into Maoists), that they keep tabs on everything. And anything even remotely perceived as a threat is usually dealt with swiftly, cut out like a cancer, so as not to infect the "program."
Perhaps the good Senator subscribes to the adage of a butterfly flapping its wings will eventually turn into a raging wind somewhere else in the world. The only thing the Senator accomplished was flapping his gums and filling the room with yet more global warming hot air.
Don't worry, folks. Jayson P. Ahern Deputy Commissioner U.S. Customs and Border Protection Department of Homeland Security testified before The Senate Committee on the Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee on 24 June, 2008 that "CBP's efforts do not infringe on Americans' privacy." They have more than six hundred different laws to enforce, and
CBP employs highly trained and professional personnel, resources, expertise, and law enforcement authorities to meet our twin goals of improving security and facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel.Not only that, but
The Trade Secrets Act prohibits federal employees from disclosing, without lawful authority, business confidential information to which they obtain access as part of their official duties. Moreover, CBP has strict policies and procedures that implement constitutional and statutory safeguards through internal policies that compel regular review and purging of information that is no longer relevant. CBP will protect information that may be discovered during the examination process, as well as private information of a personal nature that is not in violation of any law.But wait: there is even more. Most of us don't need to worry:
CBP does not have the resources to conduct searches on every laptop or cell phone that pass through our ports of entry, nor is there a need to do so. When we do conduct a search, it is often premised on facts, circumstances, and inferences which give rise to individualized suspicion, even though the courts have repeatedly confirmed that such individualized suspicion is not required under the law.Accepting as absolute truth everything Mr. Ahern said, one must wonder about the security of commercial data turned over to private analysts for decryption and other purposes. Although it is common knowledge that it is impossible to hack into Government computers (except those at the Congress, in the Pentagon, and elsewhere), what about those owned privately? And, of course, all CBP personnel are unquestionably highly trained professionals, whom it would be impossible to tempt to do anything wrong. Right.
I do have a question, however: If one desired to import, e.g., child porn or plans for blowing up New York City, wouldn't it be far less risky to put the stuff on a CD and mail it? Or perhaps send it over the internet? And to have little more on one's laptop than multiple copies of The Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America and recipes for apple pie?
It strikes me that the good CBP folks may have found a far superior way to make life difficult for good people, while diminishing only the ability of bad guys with less than three digit IQs to do harm.
Dan
"If one desired to import, e.g., child porn or plans for blowing up New York City, wouldn't it be far less risky to put the stuff on a CD and mail it?"
Yep. That's how I do it.
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The trouble is, in post 9/11 America, Censorship is called Security too .
And whilst I agree with most of your article, the US complaining about "dismal human rights records" whilst Guantanamo exists is a bit rich !