Cat and mouse, on the web

Anonymouse.org, created in 1997 by a German student, provides computer server proxies to citizens around the world living in repressive regimes. Such software allows citizens to get information free of governments censorship. It works by rerouting data through other servers allowing users to surf the net anonymously.

This software is used by millions of people everyday in countries like China and Iran, but government watchdogs have found effective countermeasures to catch the censorship dodgers. Instant messaging is commonly used to evade censors. Other methods have helped to spread the word of updated proxy lists and evade censorship as well. Human rights activists do prison time when caught, but they have prevailed with help from American advocates.

It’s a vicious circle, full of risk not to mention slow surfing and bad graphics, but it is human nature to seek free of expression. Human creativity cannot be stopped; it simply goes underground when people live with too much censorship.

Ultimately, I think the people will always prevail in these types of situations because the need to express oneself is greater than the motivation of the oppressors. To American non-profits that provide free downloads and run these proxies, I say right on. This is exactly what America should be doing to promote democracy instead of engaging in wars in the Near East.