File Formats Blog

This is a departure from my policy of only posting news and commentary about file formats, but the silence of technical people on W3C's playing up to the Chinese government is just too much to take.

W3C is holding its 2008 conference in Beijing, being very careful not to utter a single suggestion that China is censoring Web access, or that there would be anything wrong with it even if it were.

Try searching www2008.org for censorship. I get zero results.

Or filtering? Two hits here, neither relating to its use by governments.

Instead, we get obsequious text like this newsletter excerpt:

1. Come face-to-face with those individuals who are shaping the Web of the future
2. Participate in the best technical program of any conference on Web technology
3. Increase your knowledge in a comprehensive flight of tutorials and workshops
4. Join the activities of the leading Web organizations
5. Dine in one of the architectural wonders of the world - The Great Hall of the People
6. Get caught up in the Olympic fever sweeping Beijing
7. Immerse yourself in the magical culture of China
8. Sightsee in one of the world's greatest cities - wander through the Forbidden City and climb the Great Wall
9. Experience the exotic cuisine of China and Beijing
10. Shop for gifts and memories of your attendance to WWW2008

W3C, all the people who have spoken out and been arrested in China thank you for nothing.

Labels: W3C

# posted by Gary McGath @ 7:56 AM