[GOP_1900AD]

RE: We live under an information monopoly in the Czech Republic

There is a great deal of truth to this. It is a little known fact, not discussed by the Western media, that "lite" versions of the much bemoaned "Great (Fire)Wall of China" also exist in most if not all of the "formerly" Communist countries of Europe. Even though the telecoms there "privatized," the basic architecture of their systems is the same as it was during Communism - most data and voice traffic go through a nation scale virtual firewall unlike anything we have here in the US or in other Western countries.

[kharaku]

I'm not so convinced that's unlike anything we have in the US or other Western countries, eschelon and all.

[GOP_1900AD]

FYI ...

[GarySpFc]

It is a little known fact, not discussed by the Western media, that "lite" versions of the much bemoaned "Great (Fire)Wall of China" also exist in most if not all of the "formerly" Communist countries of Europe. Even though the telecoms there "privatized," the basic architecture of their systems is the same as it was during Communism - most data and voice traffic go through a nation scale virtual firewall unlike anything we have here in the US or in other Western countries.

I cannot speak for any of the FSU countries but Russia, and I have used the computer extensively there and sent large packets of data both ways. I have never seen anything whatsoever which would indicate there is a firewall in Russia. I have surfed the Internet for hundreds of hours, and never once had a problem with a hitting a site. Furthermore, I know several American programmers who spend months at a time both in Russia and the Ukraine, and they have never seen any indication of a firewall.

[K. Smirnov]

most data and voice traffic go through a nation scale virtual firewall unlike anything we have here in the US or in other Western countries.

Tell me more - I am in the IT business in Russia. Any examples, by the way? How about tracing IP packets?

IMHO, that country-wide firewall thing is a complete nonsense. How much money and manpower you need to run this? And what do you gain? Maybe, back in 70's when an international data and voice in USSR was a trickle it was possible. But now... Give me more tinfoil.