I was in Beijing last week and had no trouble finding the tianamen square massacre on wikipedia, accessing western news sites or anything else I could think of using the internet at the hostel where we stayed. So much for the "great firewall"..

John, Manchester, UK

Today China, tomorrow UK and USA. Internet correspondents are a thorn in authority's side, so expect more controls. Favourite justifications will be "prevention of terrorism" and "pornography".

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Japan

As a British citizen I find it ironic that this should even be an issue when in the UK we are recorded by CCTV once we are outdoors, out internet and phone logs are stored, our driving is tracked, our shopping habits are monitored, our electoral details are sold and train travel monitored.

ola, London,

oh great authority, please protect us from the nasty IDEAS!

I guess if you're only concerned with cold efficiency that's all great, but some of enjoy a little exercise called "thinking".

Michael, Daphne, USA

I like that the manager says, "We explain to them that this will not have any impact on them.”

...unless you get arrested for voicing your opinion.

Matt, Sacramento, USA

What century have they got to - the 9th?

Phil, Hong Kong,

Maybe, maybe it happen in Beijng. Here in Suzhou, in Shanghai never experieced something like that. You need only a ID card/Passport to access a internet caffee.
I am italian and i live in Suzhou, PRChina and I am sending this post from there. I will check again and report you the true.

Franco Praderio, Suzhou, P.R.China

Soon, after we elect our great and glorious leader, The Divine Obama, we too will have this enlightened, progressive approach to 'The Greater Good' when it comes to freedom and self expression. It's only 'fair' that everyone should be willing to be known - No secrets in a progressive state!

Mike Pike, Colorado, USA

The Patriot Act... the Military Commissions Act.... eavesdropping... Waterboarding... strip searches at airports... Face it people... If they thought they could ram it down our throats, the Bush administration would be emulating the red chinese on this internet crackdown.

Dutch, Wyoming, US of A

To Frank Frederick
When I lived in Shanghai in 2006 and 2007, something as simple as the BBC news website was blocked amongst others.
Censorship is there, they just might be better at hiding it

neil, hong kong,

i lived in china for more than 5 years, occassionally sites r blocked. we have to remember that it took US/UK a long time to have democracy much more than 30 years and china is by far a better model than north korea. wen jiabao on CCN spoke very well recently about future of china. give them time

peter, beijing, china

To "bob burns" :

Easy to reach a sharp economic growth when exploiting a cheap labour force or simply ignoring social & environmental issues.

China hasn't learned the lesson. It goes from one extreme to another. From brutal communism to wild capitalism.

Demographic & environm. disaster !

Sheri, Lyon, France

Let's face it: The West's approach towards China has failed. Instead of opening up, they're using our technology to cement the status quo and even extend the repression. And unscrupulous companies like Google are their wilful helpers. When will we put ethics back into business?

Matt, Berlin, Germany

More Western propaganda. I have lived in China for 3 years and have yet to have a web site blocked on me. I can google anything and obtain info. on any subject. Chinese internet cafe's are very plentiful and cheap and widely used throughout China. Just more China bashing and nothing besides.

frank frederick, Wuhan, China

Western liberals vs The Chinese Way.
Is there any doubt which produces the better life for the greatest number? Go CCP!

bob burns, Dali, China