QUOTE: For the majority of Netizens in mainland China without proxy services Facebook has been blocked. Facebook lists some 180,000 registered mainland users. They a can iinterface[sic] with a handful of Facebook applications , but are unable to navigate to mail, profile pages or groups.
One social media pundit jokingly surmised that a recent addition by SLIDE, creator of many applications (such as known to most Facebook users was one of the straw-breakers for cyber-censors in Beijing. The company has one program interface that allows users to “throw sheep at”, “hug”, “tickle”, “party with” or, beginning this week, “give independence to Tibet with” a member of your friends list. Where I seriously doubt that one of Slide’s more insensitive viral greetings triggered a ban on Facebook, I considered for a moment that the mention of our Northwestern neighbours could have triggered one hell of a keyword block by the strict and unforgiving Net Nanny. A keyword block is one where only the article or post with offending words is censored while the remainder of the site remains open. That too is doubtful as even pro-China groups like “I Love China” and the charity and earthquake relief support areas of Facebook were inaccessible.
If you read the entire posting, it makes you think that FunkyM is doing the writing.
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That's interesting. Is the block temporary or permanent? Does it cover all or part of China?
I ask, because I have some Facebook friends from China. I don't seem to have a problem accessing their profile, and i do not think that mine is blocked.
Maybe this is similar to YouTube, when access in mainland is blocked occassionally but not all the time.
Andy
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In the blog posting, it's mentioned that the full block may now have moved to a 'keyword block.'
Also, he mentions since a CCTV reporter resigned to (it's rumored) go work for Facebook in China, that China may be punishing Facebook with intermittent service disruption.
Suffice to say, it's not a one-off deal where one or two people were suffering, but it's been widely reported by enough people that it is intriguing to say the least.
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I have noticed also that access to Facebook may depend on the location in Dalian where you reside. On the same day, I have friends in Dalian tell me they do or do not have access to YouTube, depending on their location. One friend thought that being connected to ADSL might make a difference. I also noticed a big difference in broadband accessibility in my apartment as opposed to my hotel room (much better). I'm not going to mention the Internet Bars, too much cigarette smoke, forgeddiboutit.
Your comments about "word-specific" blocking makes sense than applying to the whole site. How successful it is wo bu zhe dao.
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AnythingButOrdinary
Coltsfan
