According to ‘Who’s the true enemy of internet freedom China, Russia, or the US?’- Evgeny Morozov (2015), the author states that China and Russia both violate internet freedom since China blocks a few foreign websites and Russian laws make surveillance data being stored inside the country. However,the United State despite being an advocate of internet freedom, had demanded to obtain internet data
regardless of where it is stored as long as it is handled by US companies. He
also mentioned that many US companies' interest are the same as the Washington's and their cooperation threatens other countries' technological sovereignty.
regardless of where it is stored as long as it is handled by US companies. He
also mentioned that many US companies' interest are the same as the Washington's and their cooperation threatens other countries' technological sovereignty.
I agree with the author that China, Russia and the US all violate internet
freedom but the US is much more aggressive than the other two countries.
freedom but the US is much more aggressive than the other two countries.
China and Russia's restrictions only affect their own domestic users while the US is spying on everyone around the world as most data are processed by American
companies. The US government wants to access to all of them, regardless where the data was generated. It means that over 75% of data generated worldwide can be
accessed by the US government since they are all processed by US companies,
namely Google, Yahoo and Microsoft(bySearch Engine Land 2013). The irony here is that Washington accuses almost every other countries on the planet of violating human right and lacking of freedom while it is actually the one whose violation is most severe and wide-spread. Morozov mentions the Prism Program carried out by NSA which is strong evidence showing the US spying on personal data. Such double
companies. The US government wants to access to all of them, regardless where the data was generated. It means that over 75% of data generated worldwide can be
accessed by the US government since they are all processed by US companies,
namely Google, Yahoo and Microsoft(bySearch Engine Land 2013). The irony here is that Washington accuses almost every other countries on the planet of violating human right and lacking of freedom while it is actually the one whose violation is most severe and wide-spread. Morozov mentions the Prism Program carried out by NSA which is strong evidence showing the US spying on personal data. Such double
standard makes people suspicious about the US government's agenda.
Also, China and Russia have valid reasons to explain their violation of internet freedom. China and Russia are rising and their rise challenges American interest.The not so friendly relationship with the US makes their digital sovereignty much more important for national security. For example, China blocked Facebook and YouTube because some Ughur and Tibetan extremists used those two websites as
platform to spread threats which led to explosion and riots in Tibet and Xinjiang. To fight against terrorists is the exactly the same reason that the US uses to require customer data from those companies.However, Facebook and YouTube refused to cooperate with Beijing in the investigation and claimed it was against customer privacy. There are also evidence pointed out by Mozorov that those American
companies are actually providing data to Washington. I am not saying that the government has right to access personal data. However, when it is the matter of national security and involves many more lives, we may give the government permit to do so. As for China, it is only trying to reduce its citizens' use of American server since American companies are not cooperating. People may accuse China and
Russia of being autocratic.However, the reality is even Brazil and Germany whose government have much better reputation and relationship with the US tried to get rid of American companies due to security reasons. These examples can also be
found in Mozorov's article.
found in Mozorov's article.
The even worse thing is the Prism Program I mentioned above. It taps into user data of many big American companies and get access to your personal data without you even knowing it. As I said, we may grant government some right to access our personal data when it is critical moment. However, what the Prism doing is watching my every movement. This government is not even my own oneand I severely doubt its agenda. From this perspective, China and Russia are merely trying to protect their citizens.
In conclusion, China and Russia blocked a few pages and force data to be stored domestically while the US is looking at everyone’s internet data. All of
them are wrong, but the US is much more wrong and violates much more people’s privacy.
Reference:
Morozov. E (2015,Jan4). Who’s the true enemy of internet freedom - China, Russia, or the US?.The Guardian. Retrieved from
Sorry Mr Blackstone, I have tried many times already but margin errors still exist and they seem to get even worse....
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