Software Makers See a Market in Censorship

Google may be considering pulling out from China but makers of software that allow Internet users to circumvent censorship are finding their business improving. Individuals in countries as diverse as China, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, even Australia – all of which ban or censor Internet sites to some degree – want the freedom to explore the online world. Virtual private networks (VPN), which allow users to access servers in other countries under the guise of anonymity, are one way to ensure that freedom. Hence, companies that sell the software for VPNs have seen an uptick in demand from the aforementioned countries. One executive noted the rise in sales followed close on Iran banning Twitter during the hotly contested election in the fall of 2009. How censorious governments respond to VPN software varies, but China is cracking down on free VPN software. It has not yet outlawed the technology, however. In the end, there seems to be an escalating technological battle between software companies and restrictive governments. The winner is likely to be declared on the Internet. − YaleGlobal