I would like to discuss a computing case which
China blocked Facebook on July 2009. The reason was that Xinjiang independence
activists were using Facebook as part of their communications network. This
case started from July 2009 Ürümqi riots. On that day Xinjiang Independents
activists caused 197 people died and 1721 people got hurt. Therefore Chinese
government took that case seriously. In China, Chinese government had right to
ban any kind of post from social medias at any time because these social medias
accepted some Chinese rules. However, FaceBook’s service providers did not
comply with the rules because they emphasize freedom of speech for reason
against that rules. However, China did not allowed any business ran under
Chinese laws, so Facebook was block. If Thomas Hobbes still alive, he will agree with China blocked
Facebook. In his book, Leviathan, he said that “The difference between these
three kinds of Commonwealth consisteth, not in the difference of power, but in
the difference of convenience or aptitude to produce the peace and security of
the people; for which end they were instituted. And to compare monarchy with
the other two, we may observe: first, that whosoever beareth the person of the
people, or is one of that assembly that bears it, beareth also his own natural
person. And though he be careful in his politic person to procure the common
interest, yet he is more, or no less, careful to procure the private good of
himself, his family, kindred and friends; and for the most part, if the public
interest chance to cross the private, he prefers the private: for the passions
of men are commonly more potent than their reason. From whence it follows that
where the public and private interest are most closely united, there is the
public most advanced”. (Leviathan,P115,p3). If the public interest chance to
cross the private, he prefers the private. When every one rather prefers their
privates, the country will lose control. It is not to mention the national
peace. China is socialist system. Chinese government does not allow Chinese
people contact too much political because China have too much population. If everyone
prefer to do their interest, this country may lose control.
Thomas Hobbes through that all legitimate political power must be
"representative" and based on the consent of the people; and a
liberal interpretation of law which leaves people free to do whatever the law
does not explicitly forbid. This is his point of view. If he still alive, he
will agree with China blocked Facebook. He thinks society is a population
beneath a sovereign authority. Therefore, Chinese should agree with
government’s decision.
Work Cites
In my opinion, I understand Hobbes, and Chinese government wants
their country to be peaceful, but laws are values which we created. Laws are
fixed, but our thinking can change any time. Maybe one law is useful today, but
it can be useless after a period of time. Blocking Facebook can create problems
of national honor. For most Chinese people, they do not know what other people
are saying on Facebook. For example, Hong Kong political system is different
from China, "One Country, Two Systems" is a constitutional principle
formulated by Deng Xiaoping, the Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of
China (PRC), for the reunification of China during the early 1980s. He
suggested that there would be only one China, but distinct Chinese regions such
as Hong Kong and Macau could retain their own capitalist economic and political
systems, while the rest of China uses the socialist system. Therefore Hong Kong
allows people using Facebook. However, there are a few Hong Kong actors keeping
insulting China on Facebook openly because they think most Chinese people can
not see that. These actors also come to China and earn Chinese people’
money, but for most people who have no IT knowledge, they do not know their
country is insulted. If government can not fix this issue as soon as possible,
people may lose their trust from government. Also I think Hobbes ignore some
issues. When government force people to do something, it means government have
over controled this issue. If the government can not handle this issue, people
will lose trust from government. Chinese government blocking Facebook can
affect people’s liberty, and it can create a risk which people
do not trust government. Now more than more people have good IT
knowledge, so people have so many ways to use Facebook in China. For example,
they just need to change VPN, and they can use it. The principle of problem is
that Chinese government want their country be safer. Blocking may not solve this
problem efficiently. Blocking Facebook may not a useful strategy for today.
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