…but “Yes” to government efforts to block pornography and violence.
The vast majority of China’s internet users want to be free to discuss and read about politics online, but also believe that people should be protected from pornographic and violent content, according to a recent survey funded by a US foundation.
Only eight per cent of Chinese surfers believe that political content should be controlled, down from 12 per cent in 2003. However, 73 per cent want restrictions on violence, and 85 per cent on pornography.
The survey results are upbeat, indicating the Chinese people believe the Internet will bring them more political freedom. And the respondents seem pretty smart – almost all of them avoid government Web sites, presumably because they know there’s nothing there worth reading.
Via CDT.
1
By ACB
This sounds pretty much like the results that you’d get in any country.
Ironically, if you’d have conducted this survey in the US during the last election, you can be anything that you like that the percentage of people who said that political content on the net should be controlled would have been higher than imediately before the election.
December 6, 2005 @ 1:27 am | Comment
2
By Sonagi
You may be right, ACB.
December 6, 2005 @ 5:39 pm | Comment
3
By Shanghai Slim
Interesting that Chinese people surveyed want violence on the internet to be controlled, yet the number one favorite activity of young Chinese males is enjoying graphic violence over the internet (e.g. Counterstrike).
Maybe instead those boys should be playing political games like “Hidden Agenda” instead … 🙂
December 7, 2005 @ 12:07 am | Comment
4
By boran
I think this is something of a situation where you have to look at the way the question was asked. Everyone is basically in favor of the abstract idea of openness and no censorship, but I think when talking to Chinese, you’d get different answers if you asked about a more open political discussion and also asked about criticism/attacking the Party. Most people are in favor of open discussion and some complaining, but many would want it to stop at the point of attacking the Party.
December 7, 2005 @ 1:20 pm | Comment