Irene S. Wu, Ph.D.

U.S. Federal Communications Commission*

Irene.Wu@fcc.gov

U.S. Asia Pacific Council, Washington, D.C, May 6, 2010

* This presentation reflects the view of the author only, and not of the FCC.

Tips in Ten Minutes: What’s at Stake When a Government Censors the

Internet?

Conceptual tool – analyzing information networks in society

China – entities that oversee the Internet

Issues at stake – national and global

Tracking tools you can use

Main Points Main Points

2

Military

Economic

Information

Sources of Power

3

Economic power Information power

Information –as basis

Network as analytical unit

Nodes – create connections

Networkers – transmit info

Off-the-net– switched-off

Capital – as basis

Class as analytical unit

Capitalist/ Worker

High/ Medium/ Low

4

China: Sample of Relevant Entities

MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology)

SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television)

Ministry of Culture

State Council Information Office

General Administration of Press and Publication

Propaganda Bureau, Chinese Communist Party

CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Center)

Tiao-Kuai5

Individual freedom

Freedom of the press/media

Commercial concerns

Cultural issues

National security policy

Internet in Context: What’s the Priority?

6

Open Net Initiative. opennet.net Country/regional analysis

Reporters Without Borders. en.rsf.org “Internet Predators” map.

Google map of government requests. www.google.com/government requests

Open Society Institute, Information program. www.soros.org/initiatives/information/

Freedom House. “Freedom on the Net” report. www.freedomhouse.org

Keeping track: Useful resources

7

Appendix

Internet Watch Sites

Google government requests

Open Net Initiative

Reports Without Borders

8

www.google.com/governmentrequests 9

http://opennet.net 10

http://en.rsf.org 11

Useful References

Yang, Guobin. The Power of the Internet in China

Zhao, Yuezhi. Media, Market, and Democracy in China

Wu, Irene S. From Iron Fist to Invisible Hand: the Uneven Path of Telecommunications Reform in China

Castell, Manuel. The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture.

Braman, Sandra. Change of State.

Hu, Henry L. “Political Economy of Governing ISP’s in China.”

12