China seeks to ban non-state VOIP (Skype)

[Schadenfroh]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/12/20101231182125931121.html

China is due to crack down on what it calls illegal internet telephone service providers, according to a circular from the Chinese government.

...

Critics say the move is aimed at protecting the monopoly of the three state-owned providers.

I assume that this has more to do with protecting state companies than censorship / monitoring of its citizens. IIRC, most companies are fine with helping the mainland Chinese government crackdown on criminals / dissidents upon request.

Skype says that no one has said anything to them about it...

Representatives from Skype have said their service remains operational.

The move has prompted anger from internet users in China, with one user on the the web portal Netease.com commenting that services that were benefiting people were being made illegal.

I am sure the criticism from mainland China will not be visible long...

 

[ZzZGuy]

The Chinese government is terrified of a guy who wrote a petition. Of course you are going to do everything in their power to control the flow of information to & between their people lest they fall off the razors edge they are sitting upon.

Also why I avoid most things labeled "made in china" when possible (I am not for a total embargo against them).