China Blocks Skype

I can tell you straightaway that Chinese newspapers' claims notwithstanding, this action has nothing to do with the stated intention of protecting China Telecom's revenues, and everything to do with wanting to clamp down on any means of communication that isn't easily monitored. The prospect of ubiquitous encrypted VoIP is every totalitarian regime's worst nightmare, and it isn't exactly permitting the likes of our own spooks to sleep well at night either (anyone remember the Clipper Chip?)

[Via Slashdot.]