Saturday, April 28, 2007

"MySpace" in China: Report thy Neighbor

As reported at Slashdot.com

MySpace has launched in China, the world's most populous nation, but this definitely is NOT the MySpace you're used to.

Members are told to click a button to report any 'misconduct' by other users. MySpace's definition of 'misconduct' includes actions such as 'endangering national security, leaking state secrets, subverting the government, undermining national unity, spreading rumors or disturbing the social order' — according to the site's terms and conditions.

In China these are all crimes which carry a hefty prison sentence.

Any attempt to post content containing phrases that the Chinese government doesn't like, such as 'Taiwanese independence', the banned 'FaLun' religious movement or the Dalai Lama, produces the following message: 'Sorry, the article you want to publish may contain inappropriate content. Please delete the unsuitable content, and then try reposting it. Thank you.'"