August 17, 2009 by Matt Thomas
The US government is currently testing an FOE (Feed Over Email) system intended to bypass the nationally sponsored web screening systems that governments of some restrictive regimes are currently trying to implement. The idea being to stop these governments curbing access to the wealth of information provided online.
It’s often in the US governments interest for the citizens of these countries like China and Iran to have access to the internet as the relatively truthful content available on western websites such as Wikipedia and BBC.com can be a useful tool in counteracting the often largely anti-US propaganda originated by these countries governments.
The system basically works by sending news feeds over email and therefore bypassing government sponsored software such as China’s ‘Green Dam Youth Escort’.
The US currently have people testing the system in restrictive countries like China and out and out rogue states like Iran. Freedom of speech advocates have applauded the move, though the fact that it is a national government behind it has raised a few eyebrows as the system is open to accusations that it allows the US to instil their own propaganda.
Related posts:
