A crack in the Chinese firewall? Chinese activists flood Obama's Google+ page.

[jumptheshadow]

>>US President Obama’s official Google+ page has recently been flooded with comments, but they’re not coming from where you’d expect. It’s not US citizens that are flooding the president’s page with comments of encouragement, criticism, or otherwise. In fact, a vast majority of the comments are being made in Chinese.

At first glance, it looks like the official Google+ page is being spammed, but taking a look at some of the comments left in English, you’ll realise that it’s Chinese citizens who have taken to the social network to decry their government’s appalling human rights track record...<<

>>While Google+ has been blocked in China since its launch, it would appear that due to a glitch in the system, Chinese residents have suddenly found that they can access the social network on their mobile phones, and are using this time to leave comments on Obama’s page.<<

http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/02/26/hundreds-of-chinese-comments-on-obamas-google-page-could-indicate-a-crack-in-the-great-firewall/

[jumptheshadow]

1. I'm going to kick this myself...

because it's another great example of how the Internet is enabling people at the grassroots level to bypass authoritarian power structures and communicate their ideas and concerns directly to each other and those in power. From the use of social media sites in the Mideast to the clout that the silencing of key websites had on the SOPA debate to the exposure of the tenuous numbers of One Million Moms, the Internet is providing a powerful counterpunch to the powers-that-be. The fact that a technical glitch made it possible for many Chinese voices to be heard is moving and informative. We must protect the freedom of the web from commercial and governmental tampering, especially at a time when freedom of speech is being stifled.

[Uncle Joe]

9. I believe that's a most profound observation.

[annabanana]

2. This is very interesting. I wonder

just how long they'll let this window stay open?

[jumptheshadow]

3. It's very interesting...

especially because they are trying to address President Obama directly.

I suspect this "crack" will disappear quickly. But I'm reading how many of the leading venture capital companies are exploring the climate for entrepreneurial web ventures in China. Will money make the walls fall at some point?

[annabanana]

4. All the money in the world hasn't improved OUR media...n/t

[girl gone mad]

6. Seems futile, though.

I think our government is inspired, not appalled by Chinese internet censorship, media propaganda and authoritarianism.

[mdmc]

5. ..

[Auntie Bush]

7. Good for them..that takes courage! Hope they don't end

up facing a firing squad if they get caught. A few of those will stop the practice quickly.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, jumpstheshadow.