【11.04.20 卫报】Facebook may 'block content' claim as speculation grows over entry

青蛙小王子

Facebook may 'block content' claim as speculation grows over entry into China

'We're allowing too much, maybe, free speech,' says Washington lobbyist for company

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Mark Zuckerberg is believed to be keen on Facebook moving into China. Photograph: Kimihiro Hoshino/AFP/Getty Images



Facebook could block content in some countries, a Washington lobbyist for the company has said, adding that it has faced uncomfortable positions over "too much, maybe, free speech".
The comments come amid increasing speculation that the company plans to enter the Chinese market, probably in collaboration with a local partner.

"Maybe we will block content in some countries, but not others," Adam Conner told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ)."We are occasionally held in uncomfortable positions because now we're allowing too much, maybe, free speech in countries that haven't experienced it before."

Asked whether Facebook stood by the remarks, a spokeswoman confirmed Conner, 25, worked for the company but said she could not offer further comment.

The company's position on user content is attracting renewed attention because of its perceived role in the uprisings in the Middle East – especially after Egypt blocked social media sites in an attempt to foil pro-democracy protests. Activist Wael Ghonim, asked what came after Tunisia and Egypt, replied: "Ask Facebook".

Facebook is blocked in China, but Bloomberg reported this month that it has held talks with potential partners about entering the market. It would have to comply with China's extensive internet censorship system to do so and would face strong competition from domestic rivals such as Kaixin and Renren.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is thought to have been interested in the Chinese market for a long time, with rumours of an impending launch picking up when he visited China late last year and was pictured with Robin Li, CEO of search site Baidu. Chinese media claimed recently that Facebook has reached a deal to create a standalone China service, citing unnamed employees of the Beijing firm, but a Baidu spokesman declined to comment.

Baidu dominates search services in China – with about two-thirds of the market – but is keen to expand its into other areas.
"Right now we're studying and learning about China but have made no decisions about if, or how, we will approach it," Debbie Frost, Facebook's director of international communications, told the WSJ.
If Facebook established a service in China it would be legally required to hand user data to Chinese authorities.
Bill Bishop, a digital media entrepreneur in Beijing, said: "Google said, 'We're not going to launch any services that require user information'. They could do that with search and maps and music. But Facebook has a problem that is more complicated by an order of magnitude.
"It is inevitable that to comply with Chinese laws they or their partner are going to have to turn over data. The day that happens they should expect a call from Congress."

In 2007 Yahoo apologised to the families of two jailed Chinese journalists for turning over their email records, after a dramatic congressional hearing in which the firm was accused of "morally [being] pygmies". It had already handed control of its mainland operations to China's Alibaba.com, in which it had bought a 40% stake.

Bishop said: "It is an incredibly mature, incredibly competitive market. People don't lack for social networking services. They will get a huge amount of grief overseas [if they come here] … Is it really worth the risk of significant brand damage and regulatory and political scrutiny overseas to be an also-ran?"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/20/facebook-considers-censorship-claim-china

青蛙小王子

Jigong

uncomfortable positions over "too much, maybe, free speech".。。。。

Jigong

The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) is a United States wiretapping law passed in 1994, during the presidency of Bill Clinton (Pub. L. No. 103-414, 108 Stat. 4279, codified at 47 USC 1001-1010). In its own words, the purpose of CALEA is:

To amend title 18, United States Code, to make clear a telecommunications carrier's duty to cooperate in the interception of communications for Law Enforcement purposes, and for other purposes.

CALEA's purpose is to enhance the ability of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to conduct electronic surveillance by requiring that telecommunications carriers and manufacturers of telecommunications equipment modify and design their equipment, facilities, and services to ensure that they have built-in surveillance capabilities, allowing federal agencies to monitor all telephone, broadband internet, and VoIP traffic in real-time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Assistance_for_Law_Enforcement_Act
http://www.justice.gov/criminal/cybercrime/usamay2001_4.htm

Jigong

通信协助执法法案（CALEA）是美国窃听法于1994年克林顿总统期间通过的条例草案，（ (Pub. L. No. 103-414, 108 Stat. 4279, codified at 47 USC 1001-1010).。CALEA的目的是：

修正标题18，美国法典明确电信运营商的合作义务在为执法目的截取通讯及其他目的。

CALEA的目的是要加强执法和情报机构有能力进行通过要求电信运营商和电信设备制造商修改和设计他们的设备，设施，电子监控和服务，确保他们有内置的监视能力，允许联邦监察机构的电话，宽带上网，实时VoIP流量。