Does Wen Jiabao read this blog?

What a coincidence: just a few days after I predicted that Clinton’s admonishment of those involved in cyber-attacks would backfire on the US, triggering accusations of duplicity with regards to Washington’s own cyber-activities in Iran, The People’s Daily published an editorial, which does just that. Reuters has many juicy quotes from it: "Behind what America ...

What a coincidence: just a few days after I predicted that Clinton's admonishment of those involved in cyber-attacks would backfire on the US, triggering accusations of duplicity with regards to Washington's own cyber-activities in Iran, The People's Daily published an editorial, which does just that. Reuters has many juicy quotes from it:

What a coincidence: just a few days after I predicted that Clinton’s admonishment of those involved in cyber-attacks would backfire on the US, triggering accusations of duplicity with regards to Washington’s own cyber-activities in Iran, The People’s Daily published an editorial, which does just that. Reuters has many juicy quotes from it:

"Behind what America calls free speech is naked political scheming. How did the unrest after the Iranian elections come about?" said the editorial, signed by Wang Xiaoyang.

"It was because online warfare launched by America, via Youtube video and Twitter microblogging, spread rumors, created splits, stirred up, and sowed discord between the followers of conservative reformist factions."

"We’re afraid that in the eyes of American politicians, only information controlled by America is free information, only news acknowledged by America is free news, only speech approved by America is free speech, and only information flow that suits American interests is free information flow," it said.

The People’s Daily also denounced a May ban on Microsoft’s instant messaging services to nations covered by U.S. sanctions, including Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan and North Korea, as violating the U.S. stated desire for free information flow.

It’s not often that I agree with an editorial in The People’s Daily but they’ve got a point on all of these issues. The last one – the US ban on instant messaging services –  simply stinks and Clinton did herself a disservice by not even mentioning it in her speech. Isn’t it ironic that now it takes a Chinese propaganda outlet to pressure Washington to lift a ban on the use of American technology in Cuba and Iran?

Yes, you heard it right: the Chinese government is campaigning to let Iranians and Cubans use MSN, Skype, and other fancy Web2.0 tools.  If this what it takes to finally get American diplomats to address the issue, I’d like to see more such editorials. Should we leave it to the Chinese to promote Internet freedom?

Evgeny Morozov is a fellow at the Open Society Institute and sits on the board of OSI's Information Program. He writes the Net Effect blog on ForeignPolicy.com
Tag: China

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