[Reading] Who Controls the Internet (2006)

Though written by two law experts, this book on Internet governance and related civil rights, copyright, and cyber criminal issues is written in a humor and light style. Especially the first few chapters, which introduce the early history of the Internet development, contrasting to the current situation, is like a adventure of Utopianists fight with state machine. The early experts' forecast of the Internet is full of idealism, but still inspiring, especially the story of the root authority, Jon Postel , which is referred as "the god of the Internet" in this book. Culturally, Internet definitely brings the grass-roots spirit to the world, even in the Central-controlled country; yet, realistically, it is a tool, a commercialized tool, initially for national defense purpose, it is impossible to avoid the impact of the commercialization and government interference.

The book is divided into three chapters, first part is about the early history of Internet, and the second part includes governments' involvement in the past years while the third part discusses the future and the global law. I think there should be an update of the book: when talking about the MGM v Grokster case, the book only traced back to 2004, when the court still recognizes the technological innovation over contributory infringement of Grokster, so the book quoted "the death of copyright"(pp112). Actually, Grokster eventually lost the case in 2005, Gorkster is ruled as liable for infringement.

In the government control chapter, the authors devote a chapter for China, which makes me have to say something. The China chapter makes two point, the stringent control and the CPC uses Internet as a tool to raise nationalism. I totally agree with the two facts.

Looking at how the mainstream media online treat the 512 Si Chuan earthquake has demonstrated both points. Right after 2008, May12, the earthquake, the portal sites, such as SINA , SOHU, gave tons of information about the survivors, the casualty, the rescue team, which united the whole country by the efficient information flow. Now, a year later , we still dont know exactly how many students were buried during the earthquake and why those school buildings so easily crashed. Any negative news one 512 earthquake is sensitive information that is blocked by the GFW and by self-censorship of media. Independent blogger, Ai WeiWei, who conducted personal survey of the earthquake, has been 'invited' to talk to the police (Gong An), and his blog on SINA has been wiped out. Moreover, citizen journalist in that area (Wen Chuan, SiChuan Provence) were more or less targeted by the police (according to Ai weiwei's blog). With the coming 20-year anniversary of June 4th, no need to bother the GFW, the internal control of service providers and mainstream websites are sufficient, for instance, Baidu's university bulletin boards no longer allow users to post articles, you can just read but not comment; and some popular websites among youngsters also have deleted more information than past months by the end of May. And,Blogger has been completely blocked by GFW in May, 2009.

The authors have expressed deep concern of the censorship and the effective control of Chinese government. I am just wondering how effective it really could be. Though being censored again and again, we now are able to hear Yang Jia's case or Deng Yujiao's case that we would otherwise never know and never pay attention to discuss. The really terrifying thing is not that they are blocking and censoring things, but they are threatening your safety and family safety in a lot cases since no legislation to protect citizen in these situations till now. The well-know government control of China's Internet actually mirrors the fragile legislation and litigation system in China.