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FYI -- Dave Gift sent this memo to Deans, Directors, and Chairs this evening. At computing.msu.edu you'll find links to press reports that give more information about China's Internet censorship efforts. A couple points to note: -- China has blocked entire university domains in the past, e.g. those of MIT and Duke. So far as we know, it's only access to www.msu.edu that's blocked. -- Blockage may vary by location or ISP in China; it may be intermittent; it may end, or become more extensive, without notice. /rich ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: David A Gift <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 19:44:20 -0500 Subject: China blocking access to www.msu.edu To: DeanDirectorChair List <[log in to unmask]> Cc: Barbara Steidle <[log in to unmask]>, Bob Banks <[log in to unmask]>, Hi Fitzgerald <[log in to unmask]>, June Youatt <[log in to unmask]>, Karen Klomparens <[log in to unmask]>, Lee June <[log in to unmask]>, Linda Stanford <[log in to unmask]>, Lou Anna Simon <[log in to unmask]>, Marti Hesse <[log in to unmask]>, Pam Horne <[log in to unmask]>, Pat Lowrie <[log in to unmask]>, Rene Stewart O'Neal <[log in to unmask]>, Rick Shipman <[log in to unmask]>, Deborah DeZure <[log in to unmask]>, Mark Luebker <[log in to unmask]>, Dave Byelich <[log in to unmask]>, Bill Abbett <[log in to unmask]>, Paulette Granberry-Russell <[log in to unmask]>, Bill Beekman <[log in to unmask]>, Sandra Conn <[log in to unmask]> TO: Deans, Directors, and Chairs; Provost's staff FROM: David Gift, Vice Provost, Libraries, Computing & Technology SUBJECT: Problem reaching www.msu.edu from China This week we received reports that China is blocking access to MSU's main Web presence, www.msu.edu. Attempts to reach www.msu.edu from within China are apparently being blocked at that country's border; blockages may be intermittent. We are not aware of any other MSU Web sites that currently are being blocked. However, a significant amount of official MSU content appears under the www.msu.edu umbrella. Press reports indicate that China has increased its censorship of Internet sites since the death of former party chair Zhao Ziyang; many varied Web sites, both inside and outside China, are also being blocked. We have no direct means to test remotely in order to determine if a given MSU site is blocked. Any MSU units that operate programs in China, or have travelers in China, should be aware of this situation, as should any units with programs that depend upon the ability of participants or potential participants in China to access MSU Web space. Please check computing.msu.edu for more information, including links to recent news reports, and for updates.