CNN iReport

UPDATE | (AP) Vietnam Internet users fear Facebook Blackout:

Link: http://news.aol.com/article/vietnam-internet-users-fear-facebook/770051

    On 27, August, 2009, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security sent out an official dispatch to prominent internet providers in Vietnam, ordering them to halt their users’ access to 8 websites, including facebook.com. And starting yesterday, two out of ten providers who received the note, namely FPT and Viettel, have started enacting the correspondence. The reason behind this order is explicitly stated in the dispatch: “For security reasons and to fight against propagative activities that oppose the Party and the government, Department of Professional Technology – Office of Security Administration – Ministry of Public Security suggests that the addressed companies to apply technical methods to block thoroughly these following websites.”

    This act of political censorship clearly manifest the government’s recognition of the threat posed by Facebook, specifically its power to communicate and publicize. Although Vietnamese internet users have already found back doors to access Facebook by changing DNS information from browser or using another proxy, nevertheless, the Vietnamese government still achieves its ultimate goal: to arrest the spread of "malicious" information.

    I was wondering if the government has considered Facebook’s benefits, such as uniting people, communicating, sharing knowledge or allowing a playground for creativity, etc. And doesn't this act also mean intentionally pulling Vietnam out of the world's moving forward motion? The best line to sum up my point is a quote of George Shaw: "Consequently the first condition of progress is the removal of censorship"

What are your thoughts on this? (particularly at the moral aspect of the issue)