THE GREAT FIREWALL OF CHINA

Oh, China. Haven't you realized by now that the internet is unstoppable? The State Council (China's cabinet) just issued revised rules about what is and is not allowed on the internet. Previously, they stated that no "unhealthy" content was allowed (bye-bye porn), but now they want to make sure that everyone understands the following two points:

"Internet news shall not include content that ... incites illegal gatherings, associations, marches, demonstrations and crowds to harm social order."

"Internet news shall not include content that ... aids illegal civil organizations to hold activities."

This is a reaction to the huge wave of protests that have swept China in the last year about everything from police brutality to Falun Gong to land requisition laws.

Danwei points out that the Beijing News reported the story, noting especially that internet-incited protests were not allowed, right next to a photo gloating over this weekend's enormous anti-war protests in Washington DC. I'll take my irony plain, please.