if (preg_match('/ 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. Having worked around financial crimes for a number of years, I noticed they seemed to be on the rise. One reason for this is technology, which grows more rapidly than laws designed to protect us from it. …
Article Author: Ed Dickson
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
1 - Caledonian Jim
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 !
2 - Dan Miller
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
3 - Dave Nalle
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
4 - Dan Miller
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?"
The confiscation of such devices has been increasing in recent months, according to the article.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.
Not censorship, exactly, but pretty scary.
Dan
5 - Christopher Rose
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?
6 - Dave Nalle
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
7 - Clavos
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.
8 - Condor
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.
9 - Dan Miller
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
Not only that, but But wait: there is even more. Most of us don't need to worry: 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
10 - Matthew T. Sussman
"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.
...What?