The Wild Web of China: Sex and Drugs, Not Reform

While China’s internet censors block access to sensitive political subject matter, a booming online industry trades in sex, drugs, and just about anything else legal or illegal that turns a profit. Wall Street analysts predict that China, with its rapid internet growth, could lead in online commerce by 2010. Meanwhile, the Chinese pay en masse for online entertainment, with both criminals and the Chinese government reaping the rewards. Many of the most profitable sites are officially illegal, but sheer numbers make them difficult to patrol. Government-owned servers cater to diverse demands of internet users, collecting profits on sites that it might otherwise shut down. New market forces, with unchecked freedoms in every area except politics, could lead to startling social change. – YaleGlobal