This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
"China has become quite expert at blocking websites," said Egan, "and one could say it has become something of an export industry for them - a lot of countries are keen to follow suit. We have (also seen) evidence of Libya and Egypt blocking the internet and satellite signals in recent weeks."
Moreover, Egan said, anti-censorship software will likely need regular updating to counter new technologies developed to subvert it. Another BBC source called it "a bit of a game of cat and mouse," but didn't explain why foreign blocking occurs; namely, to prevent anti-government propaganda from being aired, a reason any nation might act defensively.
Funding also buys influence, assuring US propaganda an influential global outlet, complementing its Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Marti (Radio y Television Marti), as well as America's mainstream media and other Western conduits, delivering managed, not real, news and information.
According to Institute of Economic Affairs director Mark Littlewood:
"The minute you actually start taking the money, there is bound to be a certain element of 'he who pays the piper calls the tune.' It is a strange arrangement, and I would worry that the more complicated we make (BBC), the less pure its message can be," already tainted by British funding and control. More on that below.
EU Parliamentary member Gerard Batten calls BBC "institutionally politically biased, certainly in favour of things like the European Union, mass immigration, and a whole other host of 'politically correct' ideas that I think it peddles to the public."
Accepting government funding from any source exposes BBC hypocrisy. In fact, "(t)he EU bans sponsorship of any news and current affairs TV programs across the EU," said Batten. "Now it would appear then, that if the US State Department is going to fund BBC that would appear to be in breach of the directive."
For BBC, an expected low six-figure sum (a starter amount perhaps to be generously increased with little fanfare), will be channelled through the World Service Trust (its charitable arm) to help reach people in targeted countries. The grant will help offset a 16% annual Foreign Office cut over three years affecting 650 jobs and regional operations.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
