New Play Opens in London About Syrian Protests

Syrian playwright Mohammad al-Attar is premiering a short play about the protests in his own country.

Egyptians make their voices heard online

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Last Friday, the Egyptian government shut down most access to the Internet. In this week’s tech podcast, you’ll hear how Egyptians, with some help from folks outside the country, are still making their voices heard. Download MP3 (25:17)

The future of online censorship

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By shutting down the Google website in mainland China, the American company has acknowledged how the political and geographical impacts that ultimate nowhere-everywhere space: the Internet. The World’s Alex Gallafent examines how the location of the internet – physical and informational – might shape the future of censorship online. Download MP3

• Beijing slams Google over censorship issue
• Chinese web users boycott Google
• For more information, check out our weekly Technology Podcast

Beijing slams Google over censorship issue

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China has said Google’s move to stop censoring search results is “totally wrong” and accused it of breaking a promise made when it launched in China. The Internet giant is redirecting users in the People’s Republic to its unrestricted Hong Kong site, although Chinese firewalls mean results still come back censored. Beijing said the decision should not affect ties with Washington. Google threatened to leave the Chinese market completely this year after cyber attacks were traced back to China. Mary Kay Magistad reports. Download MP3

• The World’s Technology Podcast: Two Views on Google in China
• BBC coverage

Getting Cubans online

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Cubans are eager to get more online access. But will their government permit it? Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Robert Faris of Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society about why Cubans are having such a tough time logging on.

Going grassroots in Japan

Inspired by the grassroots Obama campaign, a Japanese student tried to start an online group to mobilize young Japanese voters. But he discovered that his online effort violates the country’s 50-year-old election law. Akiko Fujita reports. Listen

China backs down on internet rule

Anchor Lisa Mullins and The World’s Beijing correspondent Mary Kay Magistad discuss why China is backing down on a new Internet filtering rule that was supposed to go into effect today.
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