Please sign in to complete your action
 
DONE!
Cheer and debate with
6,000,000+ fans!
My Team:
Charlotte
My Team:
Michael
My Team:
Britney
7/30/08
IOC Admits Internet Censorship Deal With China For Olympics
We're Headed For One Olympic-Sized Clash
Those of you who read this blog know I loathe the International Olympic Committee to a degree that might border on the unhealthy. But that's because the IOC embodies everything the Olympics are NOT supposed to be about: greed, backroom shenanigans, bribery, special interests, and now flat out lying.

One of the main things the IOC clearly stated it would do for the Olympic Games was offer unrestricted internet access to journalists.

But guess what, it turns out some IOC officials cut a deal to let China block sensitive websites a senior IOC official admitted today.

Wow, that's just fantastic. I didn't think my opinion of the IOC could get any lower, especially after they awarded a country with massive human rights violations the Games, but this officially did it. Besides, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't one of the ideals of the Olympic Games for people from all over the world to share their experiences and cultures with each other? China apparently didn't get that memo, nor did the IOC, which is too busy bowing to China's every command.

But enough of my railing on the IOC. These Olympic Games will be one of the great modern day clashes of freedom of information versus a government that rules through the restriction of information.

China can do everything it possibly can to prevent videos or bad stories from leaking out, but it simply can't be done.

There are too many avenues these days for information to get out. Emails, YouTube, YouTube-like sites that aren't as quick to take videos down as YouTube, blogs, videos, cell phone cameras, cell phone video recorders, the list goes on and on.

Mark my words, we will likely hear, see, and read stories about China that we've never heard before thanks to the Olympic Games. And these stories won't all be about sports. Even though China is granting limited access to journalists, athletes and tourists, things always slip through the cracks.

Plus, there's little question that the Western notions of freedom of speech and access of information will clash - not violently, but certainly loudly - with China's neurotic attempts to stifle them.

And the one thing that always prevails though in situations like these is that smart people find ways to be heard. And with all the ways to make that happen today, that's exactly what we're going to see happen.

The real question is how China responds. Will they realize that there are some things they simply can't control, and that it's only a matter of time before they too, as a modern society, have to make some concessions? Or will they instead solidify the belief that awarding these Olympic Games to them was a nightmare waiting to happen from Day 1?

If you want my opinion, this won't have a happy ending.

IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China [Yahoo! News]
11 comments
Vote!
Comment!
Your votes determine top comment

7/30/08
3
100%InjuryRate wrote:
Tell me how my passport tastes!
Hey, one more story about China and FanIQ will suddenly no longer be accessible from China.

7/30/08
3
There is not a broomstick big enough for the shenanigans that is the Beijing Boondoggle errrrr Olympics.

7/30/08
2
What a bunch of          . I have feeling these Olympics are going to       .

7/30/08
0
CriticalFanatic wrote:
What a bunch of          . I have feeling these Olympics are going to       .

+100000


7/30/08
1
Looks like we will just have to send the Top 10 Most Famous Hackers of All-Time to Beijing as well.

7/30/08
1
I can't see a situation where this ends up going well for the Chinese. Because they are cracking down on Internet access, communication, etc. I can see it having an opposite effect on the media covering the Olympics. Things that are probably pretty minor stories at other times will get blown up to make the Chinese government look even more repressive than they are. I don't see how this ends up turning out well for the Chinese or the IOC.

7/30/08
1
100%, I think you have officially had your visa from China revoked for life.  For all of our entertainment I think you should apply for one for the Olympics and take us through your journey of getting brutally rejected... i've got a feeling their response may resemble Shaq's recent rap about Kobe...

7/30/08
1
dwyermaker wrote:
100%, I think you have officially had your visa from China revoked for life.  For all of our entertainment I think you should apply for one for the Olympics and take us through your journey of getting brutally rejected... i've got a feeling their response may resemble Shaq's recent rap about Kobe...
Tell me how my passport tastes!

7/30/08
3
100%InjuryRate wrote:
Tell me how my passport tastes!
Hey, one more story about China and FanIQ will suddenly no longer be accessible from China.

7/30/08
1
Seth wrote:
Hey, one more story about China and FanIQ will suddenly no longer be accessible from China.
Hahaha. +1000000 for you Seth.

7/30/08
1

I often talk to sexy girls about suppresion of freedom of speech.

Thanks.


 
Notify me by email about comments that follow mine.
Preview


BEST OF THE WEB
SHOP
OLYMPICS GEAR
Reebok NFL Equipment New E..
$79.95
New Era New York Yankees N..
$33.95
adidas Los Angeles Lakers ..
$24.95
MEET OUR FANS
Caty
Stacey
 more
12,798,192+
ANSWER TODAY'S POLL
 more
PLAY NEVER-ENDING TRIVIA
Utah v. Houston
Detroit v. Chicago
Seattle v. Portland
New York v. LA
 more

TAKE A QUIZ
 more

PREDICT THE SCORE
NFL
NBA
NHL
NCAABB
Soccer
 more
2,555,658+
Just now!
srinuvasubhavani003 joined the Cricket league Fans of Mumbai Indians.
Just now!
srinuvasubhavani003 joined the Cricket league CricketFans.
Just now!
srinuvasubhavani003 joined the Soccer league 2006 World Cup.
Just now!
srinuvasubhavani003 joined the Soccer league Fans of Brazil (Soccer).
Just now!
srinuvasubhavani003 joined the Cricket league Fans of Australia.
Just now!
srinuvasubhavani003 joined the Cricket league CricketFans.
Just now!
srinuvasubhavani003 joined the Cricket league Fans of India.
Just now!
srinuvasubhavani003 joined the Cricket league CricketFans.
Just now!
srinuvasubhavani003 joined the Cricket league Fans of South Africa.
Just now!
 

Join Today
About FanIQ
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
DMCA Policy
Contact Us
Report A Bug
Help