Photo from the U.S. Department of StateCyberspace Gumshoes Are Afoot In China -- L.A. Times
A massive online community in China hunts down perceived wrongdoers. Its power and reach are expanding.
Reporting from Beijing -- The private eyes in China's most famous detective agency rarely sleep, are relentless in pursuing their prey and can put Interpol and Homeland Security to shame. Oh, and they work for free.
But before you think about hiring them, there's a catch. The detectives are all online: millions of people working together as a "human flesh search engine," a bizarre term meant to capture the mix of cutting-edge and old-as-the-hills tactics used in a growing number of Internet vigilante campaigns here.
And once again they have found their target, fueling a scandal that has captivated millions while underscoring the anger and lack of trust many feel toward officials, police and the law.
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My Comment: The internet has helped to fuel a massive cultural change in China. By providing individuals some sort of limited voice to influence public policy, they have not only helped to "quiet down" people's determination to have more freedom, but it has also helped to expose and get rid of the worse elements in China's bureaucracy, business, and government.
This "venting" by Chinese bloggers and readers also has profound implications for peace and war. How is this so? This boom in information has helped to not only dispel numerous fears and concerns about China from people outside of the country, but it has also done the same for people within China looking out.
I can only hope that in the next 5 years, the internet will be the tool to bring limited democracy to China on the municipal and provincial level. Within 10 years .... maybe the federal level. We can only hope.