Posted on 12/06/2003 11:38:57 AM PST by blam
China's Net surfers second only to US
December 06 2003 at 11:12AM
Beijing - China will probably have 78 million Internet users by the end of the year, keeping its position as second only to the United States for the number of people online, state media reported Saturday.
The figure was announced by Hu Qiheng, chairwoman of the Internet Society of China, a government-backed industry regulator, the Xinhua news agency said on its website.
It marks an increase of 32 percent from 59.1 million users at the end of 2002.
China's government has conflicting attitudes towards the Internet, as it is happy about upgrading the population's technological skills but worried people might be influenced by subversive ideas found online.
A recent series of detentions and trials of high-profile cyber-dissidents reflects this concern, as does a plan to police what sites people visit at the country's 110 000 Internet cafes. - Sapa-AFP
Like freedom?
The Great Firewall of China.
Just think what would happen if the could access Free Republic!
(Flee Lepubric?)
My unofficial survey says different. Go onto ICQ, look for anyone who speaks Chinese. Odds are there'll be a handful, and mostly form Taiwan. Now try 30-40 year old female Ukrainian speakers in Kiev, and you'll end up with hundreds. And that's in almost a 3rd world country. Somebody more clever than me tally up the Chinese webpages, I'll be there are fewer than even Belarussian.
I rather doubt the Chinese are online that much, and trust their economic data even less.
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