BEIJING - Internet users in China were blocked from seeing http://YouTube.com">YouTube.com on Sunday after dozens of videos about protests in Tibet appeared on the popular U.S. video Web site.

Access to YouTube.com, usually readily available in China, was blocked after videos appeared on the site Saturday showing foreign news reports about the Lhasa demonstrations, montages of photos and scenes from Tibet-related protests abroad.

There were no protest scenes posted on China-based video Web sites such as http://56.com">56.com, http://youku.com">youku.com and http://tudou.com">tudou.com.

The Chinese government has not commented on its move to prevent access to YouTube. Internet users trying to call up the Web site were presented with a blank screen.

Chinese leaders encourage Internet use for education and business but use online filters to block access to material considered subversive or pornographic.

Foreign Web sites run by news organizations and human rights groups are regularly blocked if they carry sensitive information. Operators of China-based online bulletin boards are required to monitor their content and enforce censorship.

China has at least 210 million Internet users, according to the government, and is expected to overtake the United States soon to have the biggest population of Web surfers.

Beijing tightened controls on online video with rules that took effect Jan. 30 and limited video-sharing to state-owned companies.

Regulators backtracked a week later, apparently worried they might disrupt a growing industry, and said private companies that were already operating legally could continue. They said any new competitors will be bound by the more stringent restrictions.

Link http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080316/ap_on_hi_te/china_youtube_blocked;_ylt=AjrHzuu7Ji_38M5xri2pWiYjtBAF

It's actually pretty interesting how China's "Great Firewall" works. I heard a thing about in on... I want to say NPR a few days ago.

It's actually easy to get around... but most people just don't bother too because they get some part of the internet.  It's a controlled chaos.

Does no one find China's treatment of Tibetans or their extreme censor ship a major problem. I mean it's keeps reminding me of Mussolini's propaganda and Italy.

I'm probably overeacting. But still.

Edit: not directed at Kasz wrote before his post.

And every time they block access, they ensure that instead of knowing exactly what the government did, the Chinese people will think they've done something even worse.

And they think they can host the Olympics and have the world's press as a guest?

there are interent cops
you get around the firewall to access somethings you shouldn't read
will get you into deep shit

I still can not believe the olympic committee allowed china to host. There is rumors of a lot of athletes boycotting.

Oh, it's a huge problem. It's just there isn't much the world can do about it.

The Olympic commison thought the Olympics would be a big enough bribe for them to "go straight" but it didn't work... at best it got some half hearted attempts and a passive threat to Sudan.

There are even worse problems in the world right now that are more manageable and no one is bothering to lift a finger.

I heard one athelete who said he might boycott.  Though not because of human rights, but because China's pollution is so bad he's afraid it would negativly effect his health. 

Just read on yahoo news that Germany is considering to boycott.
Good for them

Good it would be great if a ton of people did because it would help send a message to China the even though we need trade with them. They limit what people are willing to do by there actions. And maybe just maybe it could have an effect.