The controversy between China and Google began in 2009 when Google suspected that a “highly sophisticated and targeted” attack on its network originated in China. In response, last month Google stopped censoring its search results for Internet users in China and the dispute began. Google’s decision to lift restrictions is a disruption to the Chinese government’s tight grip on Internet censorship, which according to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang during a news briefing, is done “to ward off information that threatens national security and society's public interest. ”This Chinese government policy, referred to by critics as the “Great Firewall of China,” controls access to search results often made available by Google, and even Web sites like Facebook and YouTube.
Google may leave China by April 10, 2010. Who’s right or wrong and what action either party may take is still unknown. The definite thing is that this dispute sparked a huge reaction from many people all around the world. Many look at it from a political agenda about economical powers between two countries, and others say it’s just business as reported by many news channels, commentators, and bloggers. Human rights activists, for one, are in favor of Google’s decision. In the midst of all the reports and different points of view, how is it affecting our NYIT students here in the U.S. and in China, and what are their thoughts and concerns?
Freedom of speech or to search is granted for U.S. citizens and residents, or even visitors, but this is not necessarily the case in China. When interviewing students about the censorship and restriction of information on the Internet in China, many Chinese students and staff preferred not have their names mentioned in this report. They explained that they are afraid their words might be taken out of context or that their friends and colleagues on campus might misinterpret their views on the matter and may take a stand against them. Despite hiding their names, they didn’t hide their opinions. One student who’s been living here for less than a year, and is part of the NYIT exchange program, said that China’s agenda is to protect Chinese youth, “from being corrupted by western ideas and values about sexually charged music, violent videos and movies, or democracy that might encourage students to fight their government.” Another student from a Chinese background who’s been living here for six years said, “In China we have limited sources of information available on the Internet, especially anti-government Web sites. You can get information about the government and their politics from one perspective, or passed from one generation to another, but not in great detail, unlike here, I can find as much details as I can from different points of views and I always try to be objective.” A Chinese professor from NYIT’s Physics department explained that, “Things like this happen in a Communist country, it’s part of the Chinese government regime. You can oppose it and have an opinion about it, but not in public when in China. It’s not like here; obviously you can talk and write about anything you want.”
Professor Margaret Stacey of the English Department who taught at NYIT’s campus in Nanjing, China made this observation: “Access to the Internet as a service and to information was limited when I was there… even in hotel rooms, the access is limited to your room and for certain hours, so you definitely feel monitored and sensitive to the rules.” She added, “Sometimes, I would be listening to an American radio station and then all of a sudden, the broadcast just stops.” Professor Stacy explained that she reached an understanding that it is part of a governmental control after she and others tied to fix the problem thinking that it’s technical. She said that Chinese students have limited information available to access that might affect their education. Many students expressed their opinion of discomfort in her class in China about the censorship of information. Professor Stacy said that “one of the attractions to study in the U.S.,” is to search the internet freely. Students especially look forward to accessing certain music and videos. 21 year old Chinese student and Computer Science major, Zhang, who preferred to be referred to by only his last name, said, “When I came here, I felt the freedom to search anything but I mostly enjoy watching videos on YouTube…the government fear is not in place.”
Wikipedia provides an an extensive, updated list of blocked internet sites in China:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_websites_blocked_in_the_People's_Republic_of_China
Campus Dean of NYIT’s Nanjing Campus, Jim Nolt, shares his input and experience on Internet censorship with the Slate:
S: Are the Chinese students having hard time accessing necessary information using the Internet for their education?
JN: Free educational resources are available as anywhere else. Most websites that require fees are not available unless the student can afford to pay for it.
S: Is the censorship affecting their education? If yes, in what way?
JN: Most educational resources are easily accessible.
S: Are students able to access their notes freely? Do they have limited Internet service on campus?
JN: Internet service is available for a small fee, but hours are limited to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. to discourage all-night game playing.
S: Do you feel that NYIT students in China feel monitored when using the Internet to pull out information for their class assignment?
JN: I have never heard students express any concern about that.
S: Was there a reaction between staff on campus or the students toward what happened when Google decided to stop censoring information on the Internet?
JN: Some students talk about it or write blogs about it, but it does not seem to be a major issue.
S: Is the censorship of information affecting the students in anyway? Did they ever mention or complain about it in Class?
JN: It will affect people in some extent, but I have not heard people discussing it in classes.
S: Is the teaching in China different than In the U.S. in terms of assignments and activities in class because of the censorship?
JN: No.
S: Did you have any personal experience trying to access certain information on campus using Google or other search engines?
JN: Yes. I use Google myself nearly every day. The international Google site is fully accessible and so is China Google.
S: Have you ever got error messages or websites unavailable or blocked while searching certain information on the Internet?
JN: It only happened to me once, but I have heard others experience more instances. Typical educational and news Web sites (e.g., New York Times?Washington Post, BBC) in my experience are always available.
S: How do you or students deal with having limited access to information available on the Internet? Can they access information for assignments from different sources if the information is blocked on the Internet?
JN: I have never found any materials needed for class were blocked.
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