But with the Internet expanding so fast, there is a limit to the number of blocking orders the government can send out or how widely it can impose its authority on small Web sites, such as blogs and bulletin boards. For that, it must rely on self-censorship, which is far from guaranteed.
Hong Bo, who blogs under the name Keso, says the opportunity to speak out online is cherished by a growing band of bloggers and BBS users.
“The Chinese Internet has a distinctive character. Its one of the most strictly controlled in the world, but netizens’ behavior still confounds the government’s expectations. They ban Web sites and delete posts, but they haven’t got everything under control.”
Isaac Mao, a pioneer blogger and researcher, says the number of users is less important than the quality of their online experience, where he says there is a big gap with the US.
His organization encourages netizens to connect their real and their virtual lives through blogs and discussions of social issues, including censorship.
“Rulers believe they can build a better system and get others to follow. But even though they want to change the Internet, it is part of a globalized world and nobody can afford to build an isolated system.
“I believe the Internet will change China more than China changes the Internet.”
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