Chasing the Dragon's Tale: Great Firewall of China - a lesson on the Freedom to Connect

This article in the Sydney Morning Herald, Subversive novella slips past China's digital divide (subscription, 'sorry) provides a reality check for anyone believing that the Digital Divide is universally defined.

"Chinese authorities have been trying to tighten controls on the internet, with 12,575 unauthorised internet cafes closed down in the last three months of last year.
About 30,000 police are thought to be assigned to screening internet websites, blogs, emails and mobile text messages for content deemed subversive.
But many of the estimated 87 million web surfers in China are becoming adept at using software programs that allow them to evade the "Great Firewall of China" and access blocked sites, or send emails without being traced."

If all of this is true, then there are several troubling aspects to this report:

Let's imagine 30,000 individuals whose job is to intercept packets of information moving across the Internet, and probably getting better at it with experience (oh great, let's share that knowledge with the police everywhere)

Add to that mix, the 80+ million surfers who are working dilligently to move creatively beyond the reach of the Internet police...and gaining skills at doing so (you think spam is bad now?)

With the closing of 12,000+ Internet cafes...is it getting tougher to find a cup of coffee (or tea) in China? (my weak attempt at levity)

Is anyone in the US listening who believes that legislating Internet content (or access) is possible without serious challenge?

For me, this clearly demonstrates that conquering the Digital Divide will manifest itself in a global right of the Freedom to Connect...that, in time, will be as powerful as any nation's Freedom of Speech. The Great Firewall of China will either spring leaks that lead to better connections to the world community, or, it will become the great disconnect switch that pushes China back into isolation. Who wants to deliver that news to the 87 million who have experienced a taste of freedom?