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The worldwide web has been an efficient platform to freely share and exchange ideas, opinions and knowledge; however, even though the web is worldwide, there are still countries that censor and set up barriers to regulate the flow of electronic information including limiting email access, web pages (especially news) and religious content.  China, Pakistan, Myanmar (Burma), Syria, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, Iran are just a few countries which the governments restrict web access and censor web content.

An August 13, 2009 article in Reuters reports the U.S. is covertly testing a technology called feed over email (FOE) in China and Iran which bypass Internet barriers setup by the government.  Currently you can use this technology with Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Hotmail public email accounts. 

Why is the US doing this? 

“We don’t make any political statement about what people visit,”  said Ken Berman, head of IT at the U.S. government’s Broadcasting Board of Governors, which is testing the system and whose agency runs Voice of America.   “We are trying to impart the value: ‘The more you know, the better.’  People can look for themselves.”  Berman reports the system is still being developed and tested and very few details are available since secrecy is important to avoid detection from the opposing governments.

If you currently travel or live in a country that censors web content, then you probably know you have no access to your email, most news reporting websites, religious content (including blogs) and even Facebook and Twitter.  If you have a laptop and Internet connection, then I would recommend a SSL / Open VPN connection which is available for about any operating system including Windows, Linux and Mac systems.  It provides encrypted secure access and Open VPN is free.  Journalist for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing China arrived to find out that the “Great Firewall of China” prevented sending and receiving email but an SSL / Open VPN allowed them to access to all the usual web services without the Chinese Government monitoring their web connections.  You can Google Search “SSL / Open VPN” for more information. 

Please remember it can be  a national crime to access unauthorized Internet content which can result in large fines, confiscation of your computer, deportation and possibly imprisoned.  Know your risk and consequences.