Internet Filtering in China in 2004 2005 

D. Overblocking 

As a component of our in state and proxy testing, we sought to locate sites whose Uniform 

Resource Locator (URL)

160

 contained strings indicative of content generally targeted by China, yet whose 

actual content was unrelated to these topics.  Our proxy testing located a high degree of such 

overblocking; the in state testing located far less, but still contained several examples of sites blocked 

despite the lack of any material potentially offensive to China. 

1. Falun Gong 

URLs tested here included either of the strings  falu  or  flg.   Proxy testing found 60% of these 

sites blocked, although in state testing found none. 

Figure 22   Falun Gong Overblocking 

In State 

Proxy 

Sites Tested  

Result 

Result 

Description 

http://www.redsalta.com/folclore/falu.htm 

Accessible  Blocked 

Eduardo Falu 

Accessible  Blocked 

Computer utility (File List 

http://www.pitcher.no/FLG.html 

Generator) 

Accessible  Blocked 

Manufacturer of machines 

http://www.falu.com/ 

to make cotton swabs 

Accessible  Accessible 

Cargo transporting 

http://www.flg.com/ 

company 

http://www.multimediapalace.com/ 

Accessible  Accessible 

flg wf.htm 

World animated flags 

Total (5 sites) 

0% 

60% 

160

 See World Wide Web Consortium, Web Naming and Addressing Overview (URIs, URLs,  ), available at 

http://www.w3.org/Addressing/ (last updated Feb. 17, 2005). 

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