The Internet, according to the Chinese government, is an evil that ought to be regulated.Internet censorship in China is done through a multitude of administrative regulations and rules:
Under Chinese law, local Internet gaming companies must install a program that requires users to enter their ID card numbers . After 3 hours, players under 18 are ordered to stop and "do suitable physical exercise" ; failure to comply will result in the deduction of half of the total amount of point earned.
In the city of Xiamen, anonymous online postings were banned after text messages and online communications were used to rally protests against a proposed chemical plant in the city. Internet users are now required to provide proof of identify when posting messages on the more than 100,000 Web sites registered in Xiamen.
The Chinese version of MySpace disallows posting messages regarding politics, religion and the Dalai Lama.
I find these regulations as overly restrictive and downright repressive. However, I am happy to report that there are ways to fight state sanctioned Internet censorship. For instance, Psiphon,a web-based utility, lets individuals in a country that censors the internet sign on to a server that gives them secure access to web pages anywhere, bypassing government restrictions.
Can the Philippine government implement similar rules and establish a Great Philippine Firewall? I sincerely doubt it. The government neither has the resources nor the technical know how needed to enact such laws. Besides, I don't think you an expect much from a government who just "lost" a multimillion (or is it billion) peso contract.
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