The real extend of China's control

I wrote a couple of times about the fact that the Chinese authorities filter Internet content and, in general, make it difficult ofr Internet users to get their voices heard.

Opensources published a report that shows the real extend. Let me quote:

"The OpenNet Initiative tested China's Internet filtering of web content, blog postings, and e-mail correspondences. Our testing found efforts to prevent access to a wide range of sensitive materials, from pornography to religious material to political dissent. Unlike the filtering systems in many other countries, China’s filtering regime appears to be carried out at various control points and also to be changing over time. China operates the most extensive, technologically sophisticated, and broad-reaching system of Internet filtering in the world. China’s intricate technical filtering regime is buttressed by an equally complex series of laws and regulations that control the access to and publication of material online. However, ONI found that most major American media sites, such as CNN, MSNBC, and ABC, are generally available in China (though the BBC remains blocked). Moreover, most sites we tested in our global list’s human rights and anonymizer categories are accessible as well."

Question: How much longer will this continue? I think that once you open the lid to the pot, water spills out and it will be tought to get the pot closed again. May be the current protests are a sign of change, of more to come? Or simply, of the power that is possible?

(By Asia Business Consulting)