China delimits Internet Webmaking

As befits a national government free of corruption, China today underscored its intent to censor Internet activity centered on website launches and content creation, citing prevention of child-based pornography, piracy, and fraud.

Yet transparently this seems to many to be a way for the current political establishment to elimination development of the opposition. And, ironically, these efforts to shut down sites leave the options to buy .Cn domains to foriegners.

“Individuals have also been banned from registering Web sites ending in .cn, China’s country code domain name. That domain is now limited to registered businesses.

 Although individuals can still register Web sites in other domains, such as .com and .net, the new rule “will have a negative impact on the vibrancy of the Chinese Internet,” Kenneth Jarrett, vice chairman of the communications firm APCO Worldwide’s China region, said in an e-mail message.

“Local e-mail e-commerce startups and individuals will find it difficult to apply,” he wrote.”

from the New York Times