Shouldn't Internet freedom apply to WikiLeaks too?

Funny how the U.S. government takes issue with China censoring Google but the same rules don't seem to apply to WikiLeaks. Since Google has been introduced in China the search engine has been subject to restrictions as have other Internet web tools. Websites related to the persecuted Falun Gong spiritual practice and news sources that often cover some topics such as police brutality, Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, freedom of speech and democracy sites are also blocked.

Then along came WikiLeaks, an international new media non-profit organization that publishes submissions of otherwise unavailable documents from anonymous news sources and leaks. Julian Assange, an Australian Internet activist,is WikiLeaks's director. WikiLeaks has won a number of awards, including the 2008 Economist magazine New Media Award.

In November 2010, WikiLeaks began releasing U.S. State department diplomatic cables which has brought the wrath of the U.S. government. Suddenly Internet censorship isn't such a bad thing.

Interestingly, Hiliary Clinton delivered a speech earlier this year indicating U.S. support enable citizens to exercise their rights of free expression by circumventing politically motivated censorship. She stated that both the American people and nations that censor the internet should understand that the U.S. government is committed to helping promote internet freedom. I guess the U.S. never expected Internet freedom to be directed at America.

Following the US diplomatic cables leak, the U.S. government more or less went to war against WikiLeaks. Internet service providers and Paypal have been pressured to stop providing access and funding. In response supporters have been targeting companies that have tried to harm WikILeaks. The battle is to preserve Internet freedom.

Let's face it there is virtually no independent media any longer. Large corporate entities have introduced their own censorship in print media, radio and cable. In Canada, Fan590 radio reporter Mike Wilner was suspended for a weekend this past summer because in an interview with Toronto Blue Jay manager Cito Gaston his question were considered too aggressive. It so happens that both the radio station and the baseball team are both owned by Rogers Communications. Just another example of how important it is to protect Internet freedom.