Sunteți pe pagina 1din 2

The ‘Great Firewall’ of China

Adapted from https://upfront.scholastic.com/issues/2017-18/010818/the-great-firewall-of-china.html#1010L

Over the summer, two popular Chinese websites hosting foreign TV shows and
movies were wiped clean. Soon after that, WhatsApp was partly blocked by
Chinese censors. And in November, Skype disappeared from download sites.
China has long had an uneasy relationship with the internet. It’s an authoritarian
country where information is tightly controlled. While some repressive countries
have cut off access to the internet, China hasn't. This is because Chinese officials
recognize its importance for the economy. Instead, China has allowed its citizens
to go online, but with limits on what they can see.
But the Chinese government has expanded online censorship over the past
several months. It's possible that they fear too much unfiltered information. They
might see it as a future challenge against China’s one-party Communist system.
No Facebook, Twitter, or Snapchat
China has become an economic powerhouse. Political opponents are often
imprisoned, and criticism of the government isn’t tolerated. China controls the
internet through a complex system of filters and censors. This system is called “the
Great Firewall.” The Great Firewall involves tens of thousands of government
workers. They monitor social media and block some websites altogether. They pay
special attention to websites where Chinese could access material that’s critical of
their leaders. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google, and Snapchat are blocked in
China. They've also blocked many foreign news sites, including The New York
Times.
What’s behind the latest crackdown? China experts say it’s part of a wider effort
by President Xi Jinping to strengthen his power in a way that no Chinese leader
has in decades. Xi became China's president in 2012
All this is prompting comparisons between Xi and China’s revolutionary leader
Mao Zedong. Mao once exerted virtually unchecked authority over the nation. But
Mao ruled China in an era when it was easier to keep a lid on information. Is that
still possible when the internet provides instant access to the world?
Summarize the article:
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
Internet Censorship Debate – Prep Worksheet
Success Criteria: All students will be able to defend their position on each of the statements.
1. Use of social media gives more freedom to individuals in a society.
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Why? _________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Use of social media gives more power to national governments.
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Why? _________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Governments should be able to censor or restrict the social media posts of citizens or
residents of a country.
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Why? _________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Children and teenagers should have less freedom online than adults.
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Why? _________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. At times, social media companies should be required to provide governments with
information on their users.
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Why? _________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. There should be no national or international restrictions on internet use.
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Why? _________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. It is in the public’s best interest to have government monitoring of internet and social media
use.
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree
Why? _________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

S-ar putea să vă placă și