Cambodia Chat

Answer:  We sent out an announcement to hundreds of community groups, colleges and universities and contacts. This is our second webchat and we hope the word will continue to spread. We also post chat announcements on our main page at www.state.gov where anyone who is interested may participate. ...

Question: How were the folks who are chatting with you right now selected? ... [Read More]

Partners in the Fight Against Landmines

This dinner is part of a larger celebration, the night of a thousand dinners. Dinners like ours are being hosted by private citizens, by corporations, by nongovernmental organizations, by foundations, all being done on or around the 30th of November all across our country and all across the world, around the globe. I am proud to report that 14 of our American embassies around the world are hosting a dinner this evening. And I said to Linc earlier, "Only 14?" You know, we have about 160 of them around there. And so we will have to have a chat about this tomorrow morning. (Laughter.) ... [Read More]

Remarks with ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference Ministers

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Secretary Powell. I wanted to ask you about the possibility of a chat with the North Korean Foreign Minister I understand is expected here. Are you looking forward to it, are you ready to meet with him, will you do more than have coffee for 15 minutes as you did two years ago? Do you think that it might perhaps build on the discussions in Beijing last week? And also, Mr. Jenkins, the former U.S. Army officer who defected to North Korea, apparently will be coming to Indonesia for a reunion with his Japanese wife. Does the United States have any objection to his coming here? Thank you. ... [Read More]

Daily Press Briefing for November 4 - Transcript

QUESTION: And your position on political figures from democratic countries going to chat with Saddam remains unchanged? ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Internet service in Burma is not typical of what would be found in the rest of the world.  There is no direct connection to the world wide web. All access is through the sole ISP in Burma - Bagan Cybertech.  Bagan Cybertech is controlled by the Signal Corps of the military regime.  The service is monitored, filtered, and restrictive.  No commercial e-mail services (Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, etc.) can be accessed.  Instant messaging is not allowed, nor are sites that provide on-line/interactive tech support or chat functions such as game rooms, distance learning “live” mentoring, etc.  Bagan CyberTech does provide an e-mail service; however, all incoming/outgoing e-mails are either scanned and/or read before delivery.  Some hotels are offering e-mail service via their private account, but prices can be very expensive.  [Read More]

Money Laundering and Financial Crimes

The Internet is also known as a new forum for public and private speech. This speech is carried-out via electronic mail (e-mail), chat rooms and bulletin boards. These forums are often used by potential money launderers to provide misleading and inaccurate stock and commodity market information. The idea of the money launderer is to provide penny stock or initial public offering stock information that misleads investors to interpret the electronic communication as potential (unofficial) investment advice. This information causes many investors to purchase or sell stocks by anticipating an increase or decrease in market prices. The criminals then use these market adjustments to realize millions of dollars in profits. These profits are then placed into stock transactions via the Internet with commingled lawful cash transactions. ... [Read More]

China (includes Hong Kong and Macau)

In early January, press reports stated that authorities in Shanghai ordered corporate Internet users to register with the police "to strengthen the protection and safety of computers and information."  On January 26, the Government issued the Computer Information Systems Internet Secrecy Administrative Regulations, which criminalized the posting and dissemination of "state secrets" on the Internet.  However, the definition of "state secrets" remains vague.  The new regulations also stated that operators of Internet chat rooms could be held liable for their content, and that web sites are required to submit to examination and approval by government secrecy offices.  A November press report indicated that separate regulations on allowable content for Internet bulletin boards and chat rooms were also published.  Another press report noted that additional regulations on bulletin boards were published on December 5.  ... [Read More]

China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)

The Ministry of Information Industry regulated access to the Internet while the Ministries of Public and State Security monitored its use. Regulations prohibit a broad range of activities that authorities have interpreted as subversive or as slanderous to the state, including the dissemination of any information that might harm unification of the country or endanger national security. Promoting "evil cults" was banned, as was providing information that "disturbs social order or undermines social stability." Internet service providers (ISPs) were instructed to use only domestic media news postings, record information useful for tracking users and their viewing habits, install software capable of copying e-mails, and immediately end transmission of so-called subversive material. Many ISPs practiced extensive self-censorship to avoid violating very broadly worded regulations. A study released in 2003 by Reporters Without Borders reported that only 30 percent of messages ... [Read More]

China (Includes Hong Kong and Macau)

The Ministry of Information Industry (MII) regulates access to the Internet while the Ministries of Public and State Security (MPS and MSS) monitor its use. In late 2000, the Government issued regulations governing ownership, content and other aspects of Internet use, including who can own Internet businesses, what can be published on the Internet, and who has oversight over Internet businesses. The regulations reportedly require Internet content providers to keep files of what they post and who reads it for 60 days. Other regulations were set up punishing persons who store, process, or retrieve information deemed to be "state secrets" from international computer networks. In October 2000, a regulation went into effect banning the dissemination of any information that might harm unification of the country, endanger national security, or subvert the government. Promoting "evil cults" was banned as was providing information that "disturbs social order or undermines social stability." One ... [Read More]

China

The Government has special Internet police units to monitor and increase control of Internet content and access. In January the Ministry of State Security, Information Industry, and Culture, along with the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, issued a circular requiring Internet bars and cafes--locations where customers can rent time on Internet computers--to register. The circular also required managers of such bars to curtail access to information on the Internet that is prohibited by law or regulation, and to monitor and report on customers who use the terminals. In February the Government announced the creation of a new committee charged with "protecting government and commercial confidential files on the Internet, identifying net users, and defining rights and responsibilities." The new entity was created to "guard individual and government users, protect information by monitoring and keeping it from being used without proper authorization." One human rights group report ... [Read More]