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 societyChina – entities that oversee the InternetIssues at stake – national and globalTracking tools you can use

Main Points Main Points

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Military Economic Information

Sources of Power

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Economic power Information powerInformation –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

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China: Sample of Relevant Entities

MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology)SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television)Ministry of CultureState Council Information OfficeGeneral Administration of Press and PublicationPropaganda Bureau, Chinese Communist PartyCNNIC (China Internet Network Information Center)Tiao-Kuai 5

Individual freedomFreedom of the press/mediaCommercial concerns Cultural issuesNational security policy

Internet in Context: What’s the Priority?

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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

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AppendixInternet Watch Sites

Google government requestsOpen Net Initiative Reports Without Borders

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www.google.com/governmentrequests 9

http://opennet.net 10

http://en.rsf.org 11

Useful ReferencesYang, 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.”

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