Less Freedom For China

For John, BLUF:  How much "Western" style freedom does Chinas Offer?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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China Will Block All VPNs by February 2018

VPN?  Here is the Wikipedia lede:

A virtual private network (VPN) extends a private network across a public network, and enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network.  ("In the simplest terms, it creates a secure, encrypted connection, which can be thought of as a tunnel, between your computer and a server operated by the VPN service.")  Applications running across the VPN may therefore benefit from the functionality, security, and management of the private network.

The sub-headline:

It will be up to the state-run telecommunications companies to ensure all VPNs are blocked, but even if they don't succeed, using a VPN will be a lot harder in China next year.

This is from PC Magazine, written by Reporter Matthew Humphries, and published on 11 July 2017.

The Chinese government wants complete control over what its citizens are allowed to view on the Internet.  That's why the Great Firewall exists, and why many services we enjoy in the west can't be accessed from within China.  But the Great Firewall is far from perfect, and a big thorn in its side is the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

The state has been attempting to clamp down on the use of VPNs by individuals for some time, but their use is still widespread.  Last year Fang Binxing, known as the father of the Great Firewall, publicly used a VPN to bypass his own creation and in so doing caused embarrassment.

I am pleased to see that Reporter Humphries uses multi-sentence paragraphs.

On the other hand, the InstaPundit Notes:

DISPATCHES FROM THE EDUCATION APOCALYPSE: “The University of Washington, Tacoma’s Writing Center now instructs students that expecting proper grammar from others perpetuates racism and ‘unjust language structures.’”

For out of state students, the annual total cost to attend the University of Washington, Tacoma is $50,037. Parents and students, choose where to spend your money wisely.

Regards  —  Cliff